Second harmonic generation of thermally poled ZnCl2 or ZnBr2–B2O3–TeO2 glasses and its mechanism

Abstract Second harmonic generation (SHG) was observed from halide, in specific, chlorine or bromine-containing tellurite glasses. The magnitude of SHG increased with increasing halides concentration and poling time. Although the mechanism of SHG is still controversial, it is generally accepted that the idea of the deficiency of cations near the anode side cause SHG. However, in the preset oxyhalide glass system without any singly positive charge cation, the polishing of the anode side showed no effect on SHG. On the other hand, the polishing of the cathode side significantly decreased the magnitude of SHG in the present alkali-free oxyhalide glasses. Therefore, the SHG mechanism in the present oxyhalide glass systems is made evident in which the movement of anions results in an anion-deficient layer near the cathode side.