Abstract
Bismuth silicate (Bi 12 Si 20 ) is a promising material for use in optical signal processing. It is a photorefractive material with good response at argon laser wavelengths (488 nm) and is well suited to holography and four wave mixing applications. It exhibits a high response speed and good sensitivity, although the gain is far less than that of the ferroelectric materials (barium titanate, etc.). Most of the currently available material is obtained by the Czochralski growth process or the directional gradient freeze process. Nominally undoped crystals from these processes yield material of acceptable research quality but crystal uniformity and reproducibility have been a problem. Improved growth techniques are needed for advanced applications. Hydrothermal growth of this material dramatically changes the “intrinsic” optical properties. There are indications that lower temperature aqueous growth prevents the formation of defects created in the melt processes. This yields a baseline material ideally suited for the study of these defects. In addition, by modifying the optical properties with dopants, material tailored to specific wavelengths and applications may possibly be produced. Growth procedures and preliminary optical characterization results are reported.
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