LiTaO3 as holographic storage material

The optical storage properties of LiTaO₃:Fe are investigated and compared with those of the isomorphous compound LiNbO₃:Fe. Absorption, photocurrent, photoconductivity and holographic measurements are reported. In the case of photovoltaic writing similar results for LiTaO₃- and LiNbO₃-crystals are obtained. However, in the case of photoconductive writing using external electric fields LiTaO₃:Fe-crystals yield much better results due to large photoconductivity values. Considering the recording sensitivity and the extremely large storage time LiTaO₃:Fe turns out to be one of the most promising materials for photorefractive storage of volume phase holograms.     

Quasipermanent hole-photorefractive and photochromic effects in Bi12TiO20 crystals

We report the presence of quasipermanent effects of photochromic and hole-photorefractive nature in Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ (BTO) at low irradiance at 514.5 nm. A new selective two-wave mixing (S2WM) detection technique was used that allows to separately detect phase and amplitude gratings. S2WM is used in this work for operating a self-stabilized recording setup which allows to produce unusually large quasipermanent effects. We also show that stabilized recording is necessary to obtain reliable information from hologram erasure experiments. Results reported in this paper show the complex nature of recording in BTO and the capabilities of stabilized recording and S2WM for fundamental and applied research on photorefractive crystals.     

Diffraction efficiency and energy transfer during hologram formation in reduced KNbO3

Volume phase-hologram formation by the photorefractive effect in KNbO₃ is accompanied by a stationary energy transfer between writing beams. The change in energy transfer by applying an electric field on the reduced crystals is shown to be due to an efficient increase in migration length which can reach values comparable or larger than the fringe spacing. It is demonstrated that photovoltaic contribution to the diffraction efficiency and energy transfer is rather small in reduced KNbO₃ and that diffusion of photogenerated free holes is the dominant charge transport for the photorefractive effect in unbiased crystals. The experimental results for diffraction efficiency and energy transfer as a function of grating spacing, electric field, light intensity and temperature is well described by a recent theory of Kukhtarev and Vinetskii.     

Associative recall in a volume holographic storage system based on phase-code multiplexing

We present two different techniques on how to realize a content-addressed holographic memory when using phase-code multiplexing, relying on simple intensity measurements rather than phase distributions. Theoretical and experimental results of associative recall in a phase-coded system designed for digital data storage will be presented and compared to the corresponding method when using angular multiplexing. Received: 2 August 2001 / Revised version: 20 September 2001 / Published online: 23 November 2001     

Photoconductivity and light-induced absorption in KNbO3:Fe

Measurements of photoconductivity and light-induced absorption in KNbO₃: Fe are performed at different light intensities and crystal temperatures. The results are interpreted in terms of a two-center charge transport model. Different model parameters may be evaluated from the experimental data. A complete set of parameters is suggested explaining the dependences of photoconductivity and light-induced absorption on light intensity and temperature for the KNbO₃: Fe crystal investigated.     

Structure and nonvolatile holographic recording of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals

A series of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals has been grown by Czochralski method. Their infrared transmittance spectra and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra were measured and discussed to investigate their defect structure. The nonvolatile holographic recording of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals was characterized by the two-photon fixed method. We found that the recording time of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals became shorter and nonvolatile diffraction efficiency decreases with the increase of Mg doping concentration, especially doping with Mg approaches and exceeds the so-called threshold. And the nonvolatility vanishes when the concentration of MgO exceeds 4 mol%. The intrinsic and extrinsic defects were discussed to explain the nonvolatile holographic properties in the Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO₃ crystals.     

Diffraction efficiency and energy transfer in two-wave mixing experiments with Bi12SiO20 crystals

The diffraction efficiency and energy transfer are investigated in photorefractive Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystals (BSO). Dependence on fringe spacing, electric fields, light intensity and rise-time constants are reported. The optimum crystallographic orientation for each effect is determined for vertical polarization of the recording beams. It is shown that beam coupling is a very sensitive phenomenon in BSO crystals where charge transport lengths are equivalent to usual fringe spacings. Experimental results are interpreted on the basis of the nonlinear theory of self-diffraction developed by Kukhtarev et al. [10].     

Infrared holographic recording in LiNbO3:Cu

Holograms may be recorded in photorefractive LiNbO₃:Cu with pulsed infrared light (wavelength =1064 nm, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser), if the crystals are previously or simultaneously illuminated with a green (=532 nm) light pulse. We study refractive index changes and time constants of as-grown and thermally treated crystals with different copper concentrations. A model explaining this effect is discussed.     

Correlator-aided alignment of phase key in encrypted holographic storage systems

An encrypted holographic scheme with a compact alignment system for a phase key is proposed. Alignment for a phase key is performed by a holographic correlator. A filter in the correlator system contains the phase information used for encryption. Thus, it can be used to check the authorization of the phase key. Owing to the shift-invariant property of the holographic correlator, the location of the correlation peak is highly related to the alignment of the phase key. Therefore, the phase key can be repositioned on the desired location by searching for the specific position of the correlation peak. With the help of the correlator, alignment of the phase key can be done in 1 min. Experimental results using a correlator system in support of our proposed idea are demonstrated as well.     

Space charge field limitations in photorefractive LiNbO3:Fe crystals

We use holographic techniques for the investigation of strongly oxidized LiNbO₃:Fe crystals with small Fe²⁺ concentrations and compare the results with theoretical predictions. Experimental evidence is presented for enhanced phase shifts between light intensity pattern and refractive index grating and for limitations of optically induced space charge fields in photovoltaic crystals due to the low concentration of filled traps. Our findings do not support the model of a nonlocal photovoltaic effect in LiNbO₃.     

Exploring the limits of optical storage using persistent spectral hole-burning: holographic recording of 12000 images

Received: 18 February 1997/Revised version: 23 April 1997     

Material characterization by holographic methods

After an introduction to the theoretical fundamentals, different holographic techniques for material characterization are presented: Isotropic and anisotropic diffraction measurements, interferometric techniques, holographic microphotometry, isotropic and anisotropic holographic scattering and self-diffraction experiments, beam-coupling topography and neutron holography.     

Experimental study of the angular selectivity of volume phase holograms stored in LiNbO3

Changes in the angular Bragg selectivity of volume holograms stored in photorefractive LiNbO₃ are analysed for different experimental conditions in the transmission geometry. The effects of the refractive-index-change amplitude, the grating period, the modulation depth, and the wave-front modulation of the signal beam are considered. A very good agreement of the results with the off-Bragg diffraction theory is observed.     

The effect of a photovoltaic field on the Bragg condition for volume holograms in LiNbO3

Experimental and theoretical studies of the photovoltaic shift in the position of the diffraction efficiency maximum of holograms recorded in LiNbO₃ for the case of optimal electric field multiplexing are described. The experimental data are explained using a model in which the bulk photovoltaic field is excited in a crystal that is electrically connected with a low loading resistance. We suggest that the surface conductivity of the crystal can play an important role in the formation of this effective loading resistance. Received: 29 November 2000 / Revised version: 9 February 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

Microphotometric investigations of thick refractive index gratings in photorefractive crystals

Transmission microphotometry is used as a new tool for the investigation of the holographic writing process of thick refractive index gratings. Theoretical results on the origin of the contrast formation are discussed. They are experimentally confirmed by rocking curves of thick refractive index gratings in doped LiNbO₃ crystals.     

Beam-coupling in tetragonal potassium Tantalate-Niobate crystals

Beam-coupling is investigated in a nominally pure tetragonal potassium Tantalate-Niobate (KTN) crystal as a function of external electric field, spatial frequency and light wavelength. The variation of these parameters leads to a change of the direction of energy transfer between the two recording beams. The experimental results can be consistently described by a one-center charge-transport model taking into account electron and hole contributions to photoconductivity and space-charge limitations due to the available trap density.     

Investigation of the dynamic recording process of thick refractive index gratings in photorefractive crystals by the microphotometric method

Diffraction-efficiency measurements are compared with the microphotometric determination of the intensity pattern at the exit face of a LiNbO₃-sample during the holographic recording process. The special advantage of the microphotometric method is the possibility to determine phase shifts of the refractive index grating and of the light intensity pattern simultaneously and independently. Both quantities are very important for an understanding of dynamical effects during the holographic writing process. Furthermore, direct experimental evidence for the change of the modulation degree, i.e. the change of the contrast of the light pattern writing the grating, has been found. This change is caused by a Moiré-like effect which is closely related to the energy transfer between writing beams.     

Dark conductivity in copper-doped lithium niobate crystals

The impact of protons and copper on the dark conductivity of copper-doped photorefractive lithium niobate crystals is investigated by observation of the dark decay of holograms. The dark conductivity is significantly smaller than that of iron-doped lithium niobate. A non-mono-exponential hologram decay is observed, which needs to be considered for multiplexing of holograms. Received: 25 March 2002 / Published online: 2 May 2002     

Enhanced angular selectivity in volume holograms with speckle reference waves

A speckle-multiplexing scheme with enhanced angular selectivity for holographic storage is proposed. Angular selectivity in the proposed holographic storage system is theoretically and experimentally investigated. We find the effect of speckle reference wave on angular selectivity strongly depends on the techniques to perform multiplexing for holographic storage. Angular selectivity of a holographic storage system can be effectively enhanced as long as angular deviation of reading wave induces a lateral displacement of the speckle pattern on the hologram plane. When angular deviation of reading wave only induces a speckle wavefront tilt on the hologram plane, the speckle wave is not helpful to enhance the angular selectivity and the angular selectivity becomes to depend on material thickness (Bragg condition) only.     

Intrinsic photorefractive effect of LiNbO3

The photorefractive effect of undoped LiNbO₃ crystals of high purity is studied by means of two-photon excitation of picosecond light pulses. We show that two-photon photorefractive recording is accompanied by characteristic changes of the optical absorption and electron spin resonance spectra due to the formation of color centers. The role of these centers for the photorefractive process in discussed.