Crystal growth and efficient second-harmonic-generation of the monoclinic LaCa4O(BO3)(3) crystal

Nonlinear optical crystals of LaCa4O(BO3)(3) (LaCOB) were grown by the Czochralski method. Crystal cracks induced by cleavage along the ((2) over bar 01) planes were observed and studied with respect to the crystal structure. Efficient second-harmonic-generation (SHG) was realized in the LaCOB crystals for the first time. For a (15 degrees, 180 degrees)-cut with the dimensions of 3 x 3 x 8 mm(3), the SHG conversion efficiency of a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser reached 49%.