Optical-damage-resistant LiNbO(3):Zn crystal.

Zinc doping is shown to reduce the photorefraction in LiNbO(3):Zn. The damage-resistant crystal LiNbO(3):Zn has demonstrated a conversion efficiency of approximately 50% for frequency doubling of 1.06-microm radiation. The dependence of optical characteristics on the ZnO concentration in the melt reveals a sharp change of the optical properties at the threshold concentration of 4-6 mol % Zn. The optical and nonlinear-optical data of LiNbO(3):Zn are similar to those of LiNbO(3):Mg, but the former shows better optical performance.