Optical device using a cerium-doped KTP crystal

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Briefly, the invention provides a single crystal KTP, comprising cerium as a dopant.
The cerium-doped KTP crystal may have increased optical transmissivity.
Further, the amount of cerium may be approximately 5 ppm.
The invention also provides an optical frequency converter that has a source of electromagnetic radiation; means for directing the radiation generated by the source; and a cerium-doped KTP crystal that receives incident radiation from the means for directing and emits radiation having at least one frequency different from the frequency of the incident radiation.
The converter may also include means for collimating the radiation emitted by the crystal and a filter that receives the radiation emitted by the crystal and permits only radiation having a predetermined frequency to pass therethrough.
The invention also provides an electro-optic modulator that has a source of electromagnetic radiation; means for directing the radiation generated by the source; a cerium-doped KTP crystal that receives incident radiation from the means for directing and emits radiation of a predetermined polarization; and means for applying an electric field across the crystal to change the birefringence, whereby the polarization of the radiation emitted by the crystal is altered.
The modulator may also include a polarizer that permits only radiation emitted by the crystal having a polarization that is altered by the means for applying to pass therethrough.
The invention further provides a method of increasing the optical transmissivity of a KTP crystal by doping the crystal with cerium.
The cerium doping may be accomplished by preparing a mixture of cerium oxide and a solution of KTP and growing KTP crystals from said mixture using a slow cooling flux growth method or a hydrothermal process, said resultant grown KTP crystals being doped with cerium.
The KTP solution may comprise KTP dissolved in a liquid with the effective composition of K.
sub.
6 P.
sub.
4 O.
sub.
13.
The mixture may have at least a 1 mol % concentration of cerium oxide