Abstract

We study two-beam interaction in photorefractive sillenite crystals in reflection geometry and derive analytic expressions for the signal gain and its polarization direction in the presence of a strong pump beam. The crystal is cut normal to one of the crystallographic axes, and no external electric field is applied. Crystal absorption and its natural optical activity are taken into account. The coupling effects are strongly dependent on the polarization directions of the interacting beams. We determine the optimal polarization directions and optimal crystal thickness that give maximum signal gain. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Polarization properties of photorefractive diffraction in electrooptic and optically active sillenite crystals (Bragg regime)

A. Marrakchi, R. V. Johnson, and A. R. Tanguay
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(2) 321-336 (1986)

Optimum orientation of volume phase gratings in sillenite crystals: is it always [111]?

E. Shamonina, V. P. Kamenov, K. H. Ringhofer, G. Cedilnik, A. Kiessling, and R. Kowarschik
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 15(10) 2552-2559 (1998)

Asymmetry of two-wave coupling in cubic photorefractive crystals

Hemmo Tuovinen, Alexei A. Kamshilin, and Timo Jaaskelainen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14(12) 3383-3392 (1997)

Efficiency and polarization characteristics of photorefractive diffraction in a Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystal

S. Mallick, D. Rouède, and A. G. Apostolidis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(8) 1247-1259 (1987)

Gallium-induced inhibition of the photorefractive properties of sillenite crystals

C. Coya, C. Zaldo, V. V. Volkov, A. V. Egorysheva, K. Polgár, and A. Péter
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(5) 908-915 (1996)