Growth of new nonlinear crystals LiMX2 (M = Al, In, Ga; X = S, Se, Te) for the mid-IR optics

Consideration of the specific geometry of the close packing of chalcogen atoms using a new software for ionic radius calculation and experimental study of the evaporation reveal features of the thermal behavior of LiMX2 crystals with M = Al, In, Ga, and X = S, Se, Te. The optimal conditions for growth of these incongruently sublimated compounds were found and large crystals of high optical quality were obtained to demonstrate the nonlinear SHG/OPO processes. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.