Growth of Scattering Centers Free LiKB4O7 Single Crystal by Czochralski Method

With the rapid expansion of market in micromachining, all-solid-state Ultra Violet (UV) laser has been required. Many efforts have been performed to look for new nonlinear borate crystal in order to use it as stable UV wavelength converter in solid-state UV laser. In this paper, we describe growth and transparent properties of a new nonlinear optical crystal: LiKB
₄
O
₇
(LKB
₄
) single crystals by Czchralski (CZ) method. Transparent crack-free LKB
₄
single crystals have been successfully grown for the first time. In addition, effect of dry air flow during growth has been investigated to grow scatters free crystals, leading to superior transmittance in UV region.