Investigation of the optical homogeneity of nonlinear crystals by a new single shot method

In the presented method a fs-light source with a broad spectrum is used to measure the wavelength dependence of the SHG efficiency and relating the efficiency to the homogeneity of the birefringence with a spatial resolution of 75 /spl mu/m. The method provides also the spectral acceptance and the central phase matching wavelength in the single shot measurement. The wide tuning range of the used Ti:sapphire (680-1100 nm) will allow in the same way the investigation and characterization of other nonlinear crystals appropriate for SHG at these wavelengths.