Observation of stimulated Raman scattering in polar tetragonal crystals of barium antimony tartrate trihydrate, Ba[Sb sub(2)((+)C sub(4)H sub(2)O sub(6)) sub(2)].3H sub(2)O

The non-centrosymmetric polar tetragonal (P4 sub(1)) barium antimony tartrate trihydrate, Ba[Sb sub(2)((+)C sub(4)H sub(2)O sub(6)) sub(2)].3H sub(2)O, was found to be an attractive novel semi-organic crystal manifesting numerous chi super((2))- and chi super((3))-nonlinear optical interactions. In particular, with picosecond single- and dual-wavelength pumping SHG and THG via cascaded parametric four-wave processes were observed. High-order Stokes and anti-Stokes lasing related to two SRS-promoting vibration modes of the crystal, with omega sub(SRS1) approximately 575 cm super(-1) and omega sub(SRS2) approximately 2940 cm super(-1), takes place. Basing on a spontaneous Raman investigation an assignment of the two SRS-active vibration modes is discussed. Tetragonal polar barium antimony tartrate is introduced as a new SRS-active crystal with a large Raman shift of 2940 cm super(-1). The crystals allow to convert one-micron laser radiation into the eye-safe wavelength region.