Second and third order nonlinear optical properties of nanostructured ZnO thin films deposited on α-BBO and LiNbO3

The nanocrystalline ZnO films were deposited on alpha-BaB2O4 (0012) and LiNbO3 (0001) single crystals by RF-magnetron sputtering technique. Their structure was studied using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Besides, the optical absorption spectra were investigated. The second and third harmonic generation measurements were performed by means of the rotational Maker fringe technique using Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm in picoseconds regime. Finally, the second and third order nonlinear susceptibilities were determined and their values have been found and compared. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.