Deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KD
2PO
4) or DKDP
single crystals are widely used in
non-linear optics as the second, third and fourth harmonic generators for
Nd:YAG and
Nd:YLF lasers. They are also found in
electro-optical applications as
Q-switches for
Nd:YAG,
Nd:YLF,
Alexandrite
The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula Be Al2 O4. The name chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words χρυσός ''chrysos'' and βήρυλλος ''beryllos'', meaning "a gold-white spar". Despite ...
and
Ti-sapphire lasers, as well as for
Pockels cells.
Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology
/ref>
DKDP is closely related to monopotassium phosphate or KDP or KH2PO4. Replacement of hydrogen by deuterium in DKDP lowers the frequency of O-H vibrations and their overtones (high-order harmonics). Absorption of light by those overtones is detrimental for the infrared lasers, which DKDP and KDP crystals are used for. Consequently, despite higher cost, DKDP is more popular than KDP.
DKDP crystals are grown by a water-solution method at usual level of deuteration >98%.
See also
* Beta barium borate (BBO) – another popular non-linear crystal
* Lithium triborate (LBO) – another popular non-linear crystal
* Monopotassium phosphate (KDP) – another popular non-linear crystal
* Non-linear optics
* Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) – another popular non-linear crystal
*Second harmonic generation
Second-harmonic generation (SHG, also called frequency doubling) is a nonlinear optical process in which two photons with the same frequency interact with a nonlinear material, are "combined", and generate a new photon with twice the energy of ...
(SHG)
*Third harmonic generation
Harmonic generation (HG, also called multiple harmonic generation) is a nonlinear optical process in which n photons with the same frequency interact with a nonlinear material, are "combined", and generate a new photon with n times the energy of t ...
(THG)
* Two-photon absorption (TPA)
* Organic nonlinear optical materials
References
{{reflist
Nonlinear optical materials
Phosphates
Potassium compounds
Deuterated compounds