Water-associated surface degradation of CsLiB₆O₁₀ crystal during harmonic generation in the ultraviolet region

A study of the mechanisms of CsLiB₆O₁₀ (CLBO) crystal performance degradation during harmonic generation in the ultraviolet (UV) region was performed. The degradation rate of transmissivity during irradiation with the fourth harmonic light of an Nd³⁺ doped YLiF₄ laser (4.7 eV) was linearly proportional to the concentration of hydroxyl (OH) groups in the CLBO crystal. In this study, the formation of OH groups was recognized by infrared absorption spectroscopy, and a method for determination of OH groups was proposed. The concentration of OH groups in the CLBO was linearly proportional to water vapor pressure and the CLBO containing OH groups absorbed UV light. We propose that one of the main mechanisms of surface degradation is the generation and growth of the mutants and that these mutants are generated by a UV photon-assisted reaction via OH group formation associated with absorbing water molecules into CLBO crystal.