Abstract

Eleven pieces of doped lithium niboate crystals were grown by Czochralski method in air atmosphere to test the effect of dopant on holographic storage. The crystals were single doped with Fe and co-doped M:Fe:LiNbO₃ (M=Zn, Mg, In) crystals in which concentrations of M ions were variable. The UV-Visible absorption spectra were measured from 300nm to 700nm for each crystal. It is shown that the transmissivity of M:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal changes with the increase of the concentration of M ions. The absorption of different crystal at 532nm has been compared and nearly fifty percent absorption is considered to benefit holographic storage. In addition, the photorefractive properties, such as light sensitivity and the ability of optical damage resistance at 532nm wavelength, were compared in this experiment. And then the erasing properties of Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ and Fe:LiNbO₃ were studied by angle multiplexed holographic storage. The result is that LiNbO₃ doped with 0.03wt.% Fe₂O₃ and 2mol.% ZnO is the best for volume holographic storage.

© 2005 Optical Society of America