Photorefraction in the ultraviolet: Materials and effects

Abstract

Doped as well as nominally pure crystals of Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3), ι-Arginine Phosphate (LAP), Lithium Iodate (LiIO3), Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP), Lithium Formate (LFM), Beta-Barium Borate (BBO), and lithium tetra borate were grown and investigated for photorefractive effects at ultraviolet wavelengths down to 333 nm. In nominally undoped LiNbO3 crystals strong beam coupling effects were observed. In contrast to the visible we revealed a diffusion-dominated charge transport mechanism based on holes, and a low photovoltaic field in the order of 550 V/cm. With such a crystal we investigated the modulation transfer function of a lensless image projection system based on a phase conjugation scheme. A spatial frequency response beyond 2800 line pairs per millimeter was observed. Photorefractive beam coupling was also obtained in LiIO3. Light-induced scattering was detected in iron-doped LiIO3 whereas as-grown LAP material did not exhibit any observable photorefractive effects. However, 100 kV X-ray irradiation seems to induce material defects which can lead to weak light-induced scattering at 351 nm. In all other above-mentioned materials, doped as well as undoped, light-induced scattering could not be observed. On the other hand, this is appreciated in all the applications where the crystals are used as nonlinear material for optical frequency conversion.