Abstract

Self-amplification of weak scattered coherent light waves in photorefractive crystals leads to losses, known as light-induced scattering or holographic scattering. We find with $532\mathrm{nm}$ light that it is reduced in $\mathrm{Li}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{O}}_3:\mathrm{Fe}$ for femtosecond laser pulses as compared to cw laser light. Light-induced scattering of pulses is completely absent in samples with sufficiently small ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ content, in contrast to the scattering of cw light. Additional differences include a slower buildup time, a weaker Bragg selectivity, and a narrower angular distribution of the scattered light for pulsed illumination. The differences can be attributed mainly to the smaller temporal coherence of pulses.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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