Alpha-BBO Crystal (α-BBO) is the high-temperature phase of BaB2O4 crystal. Alpha BBO is a negative uniaxial crystal with the recognizable merit of large birefringence over a wide spectral region of 189-3500nm. 

The physical, chemical, thermal, and optical properties of α-BBO crystals are similar to those of beta-BBO. However, because of the centrosymmetric structure of the α-bbo crystal, the nonlinear optical properties do not exist in it and alpha BBO can not be harnessed for NLO purposes (For NLO processes such as SHG, beta BBO crystals are much more recommended, which are also available in North Optics, click on the link if you are interested). Instead, alpha BBO crystals are broadly used for the fabrication of polarizers, polarizing beam displacers, phase retarders, birefringent plates, and time delay compensators. Alpha BBO crystal finds excellence in particular for high-power and UV applications attributing to its exceptional transmittance in the UV region and superior physical properties.

North Optics offers Alpha-BBO crystal ingots, and polished optics made using alpha-bbo are also available. Our alpha bbo birefringent crystals feature high optical transparency spanning the UV to IR spectrum, surpassing optical homogeneity, low hygroscopicity, and high damage threshold.