Interference-term real-time measurement for self-stabilized two-wave mixing in photorefractive crystals

Near-infrared sensitive two-wave mixing adaptive interferometer based on a liquid crystal light valve with a semiconductor substrate

Two-wave mixing adaptive interferometer based on a liquid crystal light valve with a semiconductor GaAs substrate is realized and studied at 1064 nm wavelength. The local response of the dynamic hologram recorded in the liquid crystal layer of the light valve allows for detection of small phase modulations of the object beam. The characteristics of the interferometer are estimated experimentally. The temporal adaptability lies in the subsecond range. The large optical nonlinearity of the cell is favorable for measurements of small displacements with high sensitivity.

Incremental holographic recording in lithium niobate with active phase locking

Angular-multiplexed hologram recording in iron-doped lithium niobate crystals was carried out with near-infrared light. An incremental recording schedule with active phase locking of the light pattern onto the hologram was used. Continuous and reproducible recording of holograms of equal efficiency was achieved, and a hologram multiplexing number, M/#=2 , for a 5-mm-thick crystal was obtained at a 760-nm wavelength of light.

Avoiding hologram bending in photorefractive crystals

Dynamic coupled-wave theory predicts the bending of recorded hologram phase planes in most photorefractive crystals. Bent holograms occur in LiNbO(3) and other photovoltaic crystals that are particularly interesting as holographic storage media and result in a reduced overall diffraction eff iciency. We show that hologram bending in LiNbO(3) can be avoided or at least sensibly reduced by use of an actively stabilized recording technique.

Phase-compensated holographic recording based on anisotropic photorefractive diffraction

We report a simple actively stabilized setup for holographic recording on sillenite photorefractive crystals that is based on the anisotropic diffraction properties of these materials. The method is much simpler than previously published ones, requires neither phase modulation nor synchronous phase-sensitive detection, and needs no external reference. We describe the successful operation of this stabilization procedure for a Bi(12)TiO(20) crystal in a practical holographic interferometry setup, using the 632.8-nm wavelength of a He-Ne laser.

Photorefractive response time measurement in GaAs crystals by phase modulation in two-wave mixing

We describe a new method for photorefractive response time measurement in fast photorefractive crystals based on continuous phase modulation in two-wave mixing. We report experimental results for undoped semi-insulating GaAs that are in good agreement with theory. Values obtained for the response time and photoelectron generation quantum efficiency are consistent with previously published data.

Electrophotochromic gratings in photorefractive Bi(12)TiO(20) crystals

We present the first experimental demonstration of quasi-permanent holographic recordings in Bi(12)TiO(20) crystals through what is to our knowledge a new electrophotochromic effect. This arises from spatial redistribution of some centers that are different from photorefractive centers. Light diffracted from this photochromic grating records a secondary photorefractive hologram. Interaction between both gratings results in asymmetric polarization properties and reversible electric field enhancement of diffracted beams.

Selective two-wave mixing in photorefractive crystals

A new technique that permits the selective steady-state continuous detection of phase (photorefractive) or amplitude (photochromic) effects in two-wave mixing experiments is described. We show the capabilities of this method for the selective stabilized recording of any one of both types of grating that is chosen. Experimental results from holographic recording in Bi(12)TiO(20) are reported.

Adaptive fringe-locked running hologram in photorefractive crystals

We have recorded running holograms in a photorefractive crystal with an applied electric field, using a 90 degrees phase-shift fringe-locked interference pattern of light. This method provides a simple way to obtain optimal conditions for nonstationary holographic recording. The experiment that we describe allows us to calculate the crystal diffusion length L(D) and provides direct evidence of the occurrence of running holograms in photorefractive crystals. Experimental results for a Bi(12)SiO(20) sample are reported.