Abstract
The results of experimental investigation of the impact of ambient surroundings on refractive index inhomogeneity induced in LiNbO3:Fe:Mn crystal are presented in the article. The effect of dielectric (ambient air, paraffin oil) and electrically conducting (saturated aqueous solution of CaCl2) media surrounding the sample was investigated. The refractive index inhomogeneity in the sample was created due to photorefractive effect and monitored in real time by means of Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The time dependences of the amplitude of the induced refractive index changes were obtained from captured interferograms. The analysis of the obtained time dependences shows that the temporal behaviour of the inhomogeneity during and after its formation as well as the spatial distribution of the refractive index within the inhomogeneity depends significantly on electric properties of a medium surrounding the crystal sample.
Highlights
In 1966 Ashkin et al observed optically induced refractive index change in lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO3) for the first time [1]
In 80’s it was observed that above some threshold intensity of light incident on the iron doped LiNbO3 crystal spontaneous and quasi periodic jump-like decrease of the refractive index change occurred in the investigated samples [5]
The results are that the influence of the electric properties of the medium in which LiNbO3 is situated on photorefractive inhomogeneity is significant during recording as well as in case the sample with inhomogeneity is in the dark
Summary
In 1966 Ashkin et al observed optically induced refractive index change in lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO3) for the first time [1]. In 80’s it was observed that above some threshold intensity of light incident on the iron doped LiNbO3 crystal spontaneous and quasi periodic jump-like decrease of the refractive index change occurred in the investigated samples [5]. Such behaviour was attributed to charge carriers recombination at or near the surface of the crystal originated as consequence of the electric field in the bulk material formed due to its illumination, but no further theoretical treatment confirming the suggestion was performed. The refractive index changes are observed by means of Mach-Zehnder interferometer
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