The goal of this work is to prepare solid-state inorganic oxides, phosphate fluorides, and fluorides that may find use as optical frequency converters and laser crystals. Preparative work with frequency converters involves the develpment of crystal chemistry of selected borates. The understanding of these materials are advanced with the computation of microscopic hyperpolarizabilities (beta) from macroscopic d coefficients and continuing applications of the anionic group theory. Work with laser hosts focuses on the development of materials in the STACK family and synthesis of new phosphate fluorides and fluorides. The synthesis of these materials should provide a variety of new crystals for study in diode-pumped or high cross-section, high-power laser systems. %%% The objective of this work is to synthesize and study new solid- state ceramics that may be used as laser crystals or optical second-harmonic generators. Simple concepts in reaction and crystal chemistry are implemented in designing or selecting new materials that have suitable optical characteristics and can be grown as large single crystals. Optical studies of these materials provides the basis for testing and developing the applicability of the concepts and materials themselves. The realization of materials having superior characteristics may well afford new sources of high-power laser light for applications ranging from industrial manufacturing to the generation of x-rays for living- cell holography.
