LBO Crystals
What Are LBO Crystals?
Fig 1. LBO crystal grown by TSSG method. [1]
Lithium triborate (LiB3O5 or LBO) is one of the most important nonlinear optical crystals developed in recent decades, renowned for its exceptional combination of properties that make it ideal for high-power laser applications. With its wide transparency range, high damage threshold, and excellent chemical stability, LBO has become the crystal of choice for demanding frequency conversion processes in both scientific and industrial settings. Its non-hygroscopic nature and good mechanical properties further enhance its reliability in various operating environments.
At Alfa Chemistry, we specialize in the precision growth and fabrication of high-quality LBO crystals that deliver consistent performance and reliability for the most challenging applications.
Features
- Exceptional Laser Damage Threshold: >25 GW/cm2 (for 100 ps pulses at 1064 nm), making it ideal for high-power laser systems.
- Wide Transparency Range: 160 nm - 2600 nm, covering deep UV to near-IR wavelengths.
- Non-hygroscopic Properties: Excellent chemical and moisture resistance, ensuring long-term stability.
- High Optical Homogeneity: Δn < 0.5 × 10-5/cm, ensuring minimal wavefront distortion.
- Broad Phase-Matching Capability: Supports type I and type II phase matching for various applications.
- Spectral Noncritical Phase Matching (NCPM): Approximately 1300nm.
- Excellent Thermal Stability: Low thermal expansion coefficient and high thermal shock resistance.
- Moderate Nonlinear Coefficients: The effective SHG coefficient of the LBO nonlinear crystal is 3× than that of the KDP at 1064 nm, balancing performance for efficient frequency conversion.
Specifications Product Options Applications
| Product Name | LBO Crystals |
| Catalog No. | OPTIX-0004 |
| Chemical Formula | LiB3O5 |
| Crystal Structure | Orthorhombic, Pna21 space group, mm2 point group |
| Lattice Parameters | a=8.4473Å, b=7.3788Å, c=5.1395Å, Z=2 |
| Mass Density | 2.47 g/cm3 |
| Mohs Hardness | 6 |
| Melting Point | ~ 834°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 3.5W/m/K |
| Clear Aperture | Central 90% of the diameter |
| Parallelism | 20 arc sec |
| Perpendicularity | ≤15 arc min |
| Surface Quality (Scratch/Dig) | 10/5 to MIL-PRF-13830B |
| Angle Tolerance | Δθ≤0.25 °, ΔΦ≤0.25 ° |
| Flatness | ≤λ/8 @633 nm |
| Birefringence | Negative biaxial crystal: 2Vz = 109.2˚ at λ = 0.5321μm |
| Nonlinear Optical Properties |
| SHG Phase Matching Range | 551 ~ 2600nm (Type I); 790-2150nm (Type II) |
| NLO Coefficient | d31 = 1.05 ± 0.09 pm/V
d32 = -0.98 ± 0.09 pm/V
d33 = 0.05 ± 0.06 pm/V |
| Thermo-Optic Coefficient (°C, λ in μm) | dnX/dT=-9.3×10-6
dny/dT=-13.6×10-6
dnz/dT=(-6.3-2.1λ) × 10-6 |
| Angular Acceptance | 6.54 mrad-cm (Φ, type I, 1064 SHG)
15.27 mrad-cm (q, type II, 1064 SHG) |
| Damage Threshold | > 10 GW/cm2 @1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz (polished only);
> 1 GW/cm2 @1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz (AR-coated);
> 0.5 GW/cm2 @532 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz (AR-coated) |
| Linear Optical Properties |
| Transparency Range | 169 – 2600 nm |
| Absorption Coefficient | <0.1%/cm @1064nm;<0.3%/cm @532nm |
| Refractive Index | nx = 1.5656, ny = 1.5905, nz = 1.6055 @1.0642 μm
nx = 1.5785, ny = 1.6065, nz = 1.6212 @ 0.5321 μm
nx = 1.5973, ny = 1.6286, nz = 1.6444 @ 0.2660 μm |
| Sellmeier Equation (λ in μm) | nx2(λ) = 2.454140 + 0.011249/(λ2 - 0.011350) - 0.014591λ2-6.60×10-5λ4
ny2 (λ) = 2.539070 + 0.012711/(λ2 - 0.012523) - 0.018540λ2+2.0×10-4λ4
nz2 (λ) = 2.586179 + 0.013099/(λ2 - 0.011893) - 0.017968λ2-2.26×10-4λ4 |
Note: The data provided is for reference purposes. We recommend consulting with our technical team to verify suitability for your application.
LBO Standard Product Options
| Crystal | Size (mm) | Type | Coating |
| LBO | 2×2×10 | θ=90°, φ=11.4° | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 2×2×10 | θ=90°, φ=11.3° | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 3×3×5 | θ=90°, φ=36.1° | AR@1064&532nm&355nm |
| LBO | 3×3×8 | θ=90°, φ=9.6°,65C | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 3×3×8 | θ=90°, φ=11° | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 3×3×8 | θ=90°, φ=36.1° | AR@1064&532nm&355nm |
| LBO | 3×3×10 | θ=90°, φ=36.1° | AR@1064&532nm&355nm |
| LBO | 3×3×15 | θ=90°, φ=0° | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 4×4×13 | θ=44°, φ=90° | AR@1064&532&355nm |
| LBO | 4×4×15 | θ=43.3°, φ=90° | AR@1064&532&355nm |
| LBO | 5×5×15 | θ=90°, φ=9.9° | AR@1064&532nm |
| LBO | 5×5×15 | θ=90°, φ=8.6°,60C | AR@1053nm&527nm |
| LBO | 5×5×17 | θ=90°, φ=8.6°,60C | AR@1053nm&527nm |
| Large size LBO | 20×20 (W×L) | 0 | AR@1064nm&532nm |
| LBO | 25×25 (W×L) | 0 | AR@1064nm&532nm |
| LBO | 50×50 (W×L) | 0 | AR@1064nm&532nm |
| LBO | 100×100 (W×L) | 0 | AR@1064nm&532nm |
LBO crystals are versatile solutions for advanced optical systems:
High-Power Harmonic Generation:
- Second, third, fourth, and fifth harmonic generation of Nd:YAG lasers (1064nm → 532nm, 355nm, 266nm, 213nm)
- Frequency conversion for high-power laser systems
Optical Parametric Processes:
- Optical parametric oscillators (OPO)
- Optical parametric amplifiers (OPA)
- Optical parametric generation (OPG)
Ultrafast Laser Systems:
- Frequency conversion for femtosecond and picosecond lasers
- Pulse compression applications
Scientific Research and Instrumentation:
- Spectroscopy systems
- Laser radar and remote sensing
- Medical laser systems
Why Choose Our LBO Crystals?
- Superior Crystal Quality: Advanced growth techniques ensure excellent optical homogeneity and consistent performance.
- Custom Fabrication: Wide range of sizes, orientations, and coatings available to meet specific application requirements.
- Rigorous Quality Control: Comprehensive testing including interferometry, damage threshold verification, and wavefront distortion analysis.
- Technical Expertise: Decades of experience in nonlinear crystal manufacturing and application support.
- Global Support: Comprehensive technical support from design to integration.
Reference
- Shakhverdova, I. P., et al. Crystal Research and Technology: Journal of Experimental and Industrial Crystallography 43.4 (2008): 339-349.
