The optimal vector phase matching conditions in biaxial crystalline materials determined by extreme surfaces method: the case of orthorhombic crystals

TL;DR

This paper determines optimal vector phase matching conditions in orthorhombic nonlinear crystals using the extreme surface method, showing vector matching often yields higher efficiencies than scalar matching.

Contribution

It introduces the use of the extreme surface method to identify optimal vector phase matching geometries in orthorhombic crystals, enhancing nonlinear optical efficiency.

Findings

Vector phase matching often outperforms scalar matching in efficiency.

Optimal geometries vary among different orthorhombic crystals.

Extreme surface method effectively determines high-efficiency phase matching conditions.

Abstract

The optimal geometries of vector phase matching are determined for the cases of second harmonic, sum and difference frequency generation in a number of orthorhombic nonlinear optical crystals - KTP, KTA, KB5, KNbO3, LBO, CBO, LRB4. Extreme surface method was used to define wave vectors directions of highest possible generation efficiency. As it is shown, in a significant number of cases vector phase matching ensures higher efficiencies than the scalar one.