A narrow-band interference filter with photorefractive LiNbO₃

Abstract

A narrow-bandwidth interference filter has been developed using volume holography in photorefractive LiNbO3 crystals. The device works as a Bragg reflector using a volume hologram recorded, fixed and developed in a LiNbO3 sample. With a 2 mm thick LiNbO3 plate the following performances have been achieved: a peak reflectivity above 32%, a full-width at half-maximum bandwidth below 0.05 nm, an angular field of view of about 3 degrees and a peak wavelength of 518.45 nm (for green Ar laser writing wavelength). These performances compare well with that exhibited by the conventional Lyot-Ohman and Solc filters. A complete explanation of the fabrication procedure is given, including practical details needed for producing such an efficiency with fixed holograms in LiNbO3.

Ionic and electronic dark decay of holograms in LiNbO3:Fe crystals

“…͓DOI: 10.1063/1.1380247͔ Photorefractive LiNbO 3 :Fe crystals have been of intense interest in the fields of holographic data storage [1][2][3][4] and narrow-band wavelength filters for optical telecommunications. [5][6][7][8] Photorefractive volume phase gratings can be produced in electro-optic materials by redistribution of excited carriers in the presence of light. One of the most important issues is the dark decay due to the dark conductivity.…”

High intensity behavior of pyroelectric photorefractive self-focusing in LiNbO3

“…It is also usually related to optical damages because intense visible light induces an inhomogeneous refractive-index change that can seriously disturb the propagation, leading to defocussing or beam distortion [4]. However PR effect can also be very useful for holographic applications such as wavelength filters, diffractive-optical elements or real time holography [5][6][7]. It also led to the observation of dark and bright spatial solitons [8,9] with promising applications [10].…”

Microstructure and optical properties of Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals

“…LiNbO 3 (LN) crystals have been extensively studied because of its wide application fields such as holographic storage [1] et al, and its excellent photorefractive properties [2]. A key problem in holographic storage using photorefractive LiNbO 3 crystals is the volatility.…”