High efficiency and high energy 355 nm generation in NaSr3Be3B3O9F4 crystal

We have demonstrated a high efficiency and high energy picosecond 355 nm laser generation by sum-frequency generation in a type-II NaSr3Be3B3O9F4 (NSBBF) crystal for the first time. The crystal was grown by a modified top-seeded solution growth with sizes up to 45×25×20mm3. A maximum conversion efficiency of 33.5% from the fundamental light of 1064 nm to the third harmonic 355 nm generation has been achieved. And a maximum output of 11.8mJ at 355 nm was obtained with the 1064 nm energy of 39.0mJ. Furthermore, the major optical parameters for 355 nm generation were calculated for both NSBBF and BBO. These results indicate that NSBBF is promising for high energy of 355 nm generation because of its excellent NLO properties and nonhygroscopicity.