Methods of enhancement of the efficiency of generation of the second optical harmonic of spatially limited laser beams

Abstract

Frequency doubling of spatially limited laser beams in nonlinear optical crystals is analyzed. Conditions are found under which the diaphragm aperture effect limiting the efficiency of the process of second optical harmonic generation can be reduced. It is shown that a spatial shift of mutually orthogonally polarized beams of fundamental radiation in the direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the waves, as well as the optimization of the ratio of the spatial dimensions and the intensity at the entrance of the nonlinear medium, gives rise to an increase in the efficiency of second harmonic generation.