Covesion MgO:PPLN Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Crystal

Overview

Covesion MgO:PPLN (Magnesium Oxide-doped Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate) is a high-performance nonlinear optical crystal engineered for quasi-phase-matched (QPM) frequency conversion across ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared to mid-infrared spectral regions (460 nm – 5100 nm). Based on the ferroelectric domain engineering of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), MgO:PPLN leverages precise periodic poling to satisfy momentum conservation in second-harmonic generation (SHG), optical parametric oscillation (OPO), difference-frequency generation (DFG), and sum-frequency generation (SFG). The incorporation of 5 mol% MgO significantly elevates the photorefractive damage threshold and thermal stability while preserving >95% of the intrinsic d₃₃ nonlinear coefficient—enabling robust, room-temperature operation and broad thermal tuning bandwidths unmatched by undoped PPLN.

Key Features

• High-fidelity periodic domain inversion with poling periods from 4.5 µm to >33 µm, fabricated via Covesion’s proprietary electric-field poling process under ISO 9001-controlled cleanroom conditions
• MgO doping (5 mol%) enhances resistance to optical damage and photorefractive effects—critical for high-average-power and CW-pumped applications
• Uniform domain structure throughout full crystal thickness (up to 1 mm), verified by etch-pit analysis and confocal SHG microscopy
• Thermally stable performance: operational from ambient temperature up to +200 °C; enables wideband wavelength tuning without active stabilization in many configurations
• Available with custom anti-reflection (AR) or high-reflection (HR) dielectric coatings optimized for specific pump/signal/idler wavelengths (e.g., 1064/532 nm, 1550/3100 nm)
• OEM-ready formats: standard dimensions (e.g., 1 × 2 × 10 mm³, 1 × 5 × 20 mm³), polished & coated, with full traceability documentation including poling map and spectral acceptance bandwidth data

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

MgO:PPLN crystals are compatible with common continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed laser sources including Nd:YAG (1064 nm), Ti:sapphire (700–1000 nm), fiber lasers (1550 nm, 2000 nm), and quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). All crystals undergo rigorous metrology per ISO 10110-3 (surface quality), ISO 10110-7 (laser damage threshold ≥ 500 MW/cm² @ 1064 nm, 10 ns), and internal spectral acceptance testing. Manufacturing adheres to ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems. Crystals are supplied with full compliance documentation suitable for GLP/GMP environments and integration into FDA-regulated instrumentation where applicable.

Software & Data Management

Each MgO:PPLN crystal is delivered with a unique serial number and digital certificate containing measured poling period uniformity (<±0.05 µm), phase-matching temperature curve (ΔT = ±0.5 °C), and calculated acceptance bandwidth (Δλ, Δθ). Covesion provides free access to its PPLN PhaseMatch Calculator—a web-based tool supporting interactive QPM design for SHG/OPO/DFG/SFG configurations using refractive index models validated against experimental data. Exportable reports comply with 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail requirements when used with validated enterprise platforms.

Applications

• Visible light generation: Efficient red–green–blue (RGB) source development via SHG of 1064 nm (532 nm green), 1342 nm (671 nm red), and 946 nm (473 nm blue) lasers
• Mid-IR spectroscopy: OPO-based tunable sources from 2.5–5.0 µm for gas sensing (CH₄, CO₂, NOₓ), medical breath analysis, and environmental monitoring
• Quantum optics: SPDC photon-pair generation at telecom wavelengths for entanglement distribution and quantum key distribution (QKD)
• Ultrafast pulse compression: Chirped-pulse parametric amplification (OPCPA) stages requiring broad gain bandwidth and high temporal contrast
• Industrial laser processing: Frequency-doubled high-power fiber lasers for precision micromachining of transparent materials

FAQ

What is the typical damage threshold for MgO:PPLN under nanosecond pulsed excitation?
Covesion MgO:PPLN exhibits LIDT ≥ 500 MW/cm² at 1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz (measured per ISO 21254-2), with higher thresholds achievable under CW or picosecond regimes depending on thermal management.
Can I specify custom poling periods outside the standard 4.5–33 µm range?
Yes—Covesion supports custom periods down to 3.8 µm and up to 45 µm for specialized phase-matching requirements; lead time and minimum order quantities apply.
Do you provide temperature controllers compatible with MgO:PPLN ovens?
We supply reference-grade thermoelectric controllers (PID-stabilized, ±0.02 °C) with integrated oven mounts and NIST-traceable calibration certificates upon request.
Is coating included by default, or is it an optional add-on?
Standard AR coatings (R < 0.2% per surface) are included for common wavelength pairs; HR/PR/BBAR coatings are available as configurable options during quotation.
How is poling uniformity verified prior to shipment?
Every crystal undergoes quantitative domain imaging via chemical etching followed by SEM or confocal SHG mapping; full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) deviation is reported in the certificate of conformance.