Abstract

Inhomogeneous illumination of photorefractive materials redistributes charge, space-charge fields build up and modulate the refractive index via the electrooptic effect. No development or further processing is required. This effect enables promising applications in the fields of solid state phase conjugation, image processing and volume holographic data storage. Insights into the light-induced charge transport processes are the key for successful material engineering [1]. Recently photoconductivity measurements with continuous wave and pulsed excitation, absorption measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, investigations with non-steady-state photocurrents and Hall measurements are used to characterize strontium-barium niobate crystals (Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆, SBN) doped with cerium. A full set of charge transport parameters of a photorefractive crystals has been obtained for the first time.

© 1998 IEEE