Abstract

A variety of organic single crystals have been developed for phase matched second harmonic generation (PMSHG) of near infrared lasers. The molecules that make up the crystal lattice are chosen for their high molecular second order nonlinear optical susceptibility, or β. For a particular molecular structure the value of β is measured in solution from electric field induced SHG (DCSHG.) In a bulk crystal, however, the structure must be noncentro- symmetric in order to produce macroscopic SHG. This property can be determined from a powder SHG test. A strong powder SHG result also Indicates that the crystal is phase matchable. Such a procedure was used in developing dicyano substituted benzene materials.

© 1988 Optical Society of America