The photorefractive response time of LiNbO₃ crystal is of the order of minutes, and such a long response time limits the crystal's practical applications. We report the photorefractive properties of nominally pure near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystal that is strongly reduced in vacuum. A short photorefractive response time of the order of 100 ms is measured at a wavelength of 514.5 nm, with incident light intensity of 1.6 W/cm ² , and possible corresponding mechanisms are discussed. To our knowledge this is the first experimental evidence of a subsecond photorefractive response in pure LiNbO₃ crystals. The diffraction efficiency of a holographic grating written in this reduced crystal is low but can be enhanced by an externally applied electric field.

© 2001 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

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