Zircon, ZrSiO4 - A novel SRS-active crystal

The discovery of χ(3)‐nonlinear lasing by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in natural crystals of zircon, ZrSiO4, is reported. All recorded Stokes and anti‐Stokes Raman‐induced lasing components are identified and attributed to the two occurring SRS‐promoting phonon modes with ωSRS1 ≈ 1008 cm−1 and ωSRS2 ≈ 356 cm−1, which are related to the anti‐symmetric stretching vibration B1g(ν3) and the bending mode Eg(ν4), respectively, of the crystal with symmetry D4h19−I41/amd. The study indicates the high potential of ZrSiO4 as an effective SRS crystal. Crystals of ZrSiO4, as used for sample preparation, together with a sample for SRS measurement.