Generation of the third harmonic of laser radiation in gallium ion beams

An experiment is reported in which laser harmonics were generated in ion beams produced by a liquid-metal ion source. In the experiment, the third harmonic of an Nd-glass laser was generated in Ga ions, and the parameters responsible for the conversion process were determined. Based on the calculated values of the matrix elements of the dipole moment operator, calculations were made of the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities responsible for third harmonic generation and for the effect of the main emission on the generated wave phase. The results obtained indicate that ion beams can be used as nonlinear media for the frequency conversion of laser emission.