Absolute Measurement of Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Coefficient of LiNbO₃ by Parametric Processes

Abstract

We have redetermined the absolute values of the nonlinear optical coefficient, d₃₁, of LiNbO₃ by parametric fluorescence and, for the first time, by difference frequency generation measurements to resolve the considerable discrepancy that existed between the values determined by second-harmonic generation (SHG) and parametric fluorescence. We obtain d₃₁=4.8.5 and 4.3.5 pm/V at the pump wavelengths of 488 and 532 nm, respectively, in reasonable agreement with the SHG data. It appears that the previous parametric fluorescence value, d₃₁=5.8 pm/V, was overestimated.