Crystal growth and characterization of gadolinium yttrium calcium oxyborate Gd/sub x/Y/sub 1-x/Ca/sub 4/O(BO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ for noncritically phase-matched SHG of a Nd:YAG laser

We have demonstrated noncritical phase matchable second harmonic generation of a Nd:YAG laser in Gd/sub 0.275/Y/sub 0.725/Ca/sub 4/O(BO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ (GdYCOB) at room temperature. The advantages, such as the high stability for angular and temperature variation, nonhygroscopicity, and ease in growing large crystals, suggest that the GdYCOB crystal is an attractive candidate for a high power green laser.