Structure and properties of a complex crystal for laser diode frequency doubling: Cadmium mercury thiocyanate

The crystal structure of cadmium mercury thiocyanate [CdHg(SCN)(4)] is determined by means of a four circle diffractometer. The structural features and properties of the crystal are described. Blue-violet light output by frequency doubling of a 809 nm GaAlAs laser diode using a cadmium mercury thiocyanate crystal device that is 3 mm thick at the phase matching angle: theta=47.7 degrees, phi=0 degrees, is realized at room temperature with input power lower than 200 mW. A 464.5 nm light output power of 1.8 mW is also measured for a 576 mW input power of the GaAlAs laser diode. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.