Abstract
The main results of the theory of spatial subharmonics in photorefractive crystals are summarized. The theory shows that Kukhtarev's equations for the photorefractive response are not valid for sufficiently large values of the mobility-lifetime product and for certain parameters (external field, frequency detuning, grating vector, pump intensity) of a two-beam experiment. The solution for the space-charge field including only the fundamental and the higher harmonics is not stable against the generation of new spatial frequencies. The condition of subharmonic generation and the main characteristics of the subharmonics are expressed by standard experimental and crystal parameters. Good quantitative agreement between theory and experiment is obtained. The prospects of further investigations of subharmonics are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. Mallick, B. Imbert, H. Ducollet, J.P. Herriau, J.P. Huignard: Generation of spatial subharmonics by two-wave mixing in a nonlinear photorefractive medium. J. Appl. Phys. 63, 5660–5663 (1988)
D.C. Jones, L. Solymar: Competition between subharmonic and resonating beams for photorefractive gain in bismuth silicon oxide. Opt. Lett. 14, 743–744 (1989)
D.J. Webb, L. Solymar: Observations of spatial subharmonics arising during two-wave mixing in BSO. Opt. Commun. 74, 386–389 (1990)
D.J. Webb, L.B. Au, D.C. Jones, L. Solymar: Onset of subharmonics generated by forward wave interactions in Bi12SiO20. Appl. Phys. Lett. 57, 1602–1604 (1990)
J. Takacs, L. Solymar: Observation of split subharmonics in a Bi12SiO20 crystal. (unpublished 1991)
K.H. Ringhofer, L. Solymar: New gain mechanism for wave amplification in photorefractive crystals. Appl. Phys. Lett. 53, 1039–1040 (1988)
K.H. Ringhofer, L. Solymar: Three-wave and four-wave forward mixing in photorefractive materials. Appl. Phys. B 48, 395–400 (1989)
N.V. Kukhtarev, V.B. Markov, S.G. Odulov, M.S. Soskin, V.L. Vinetskii: Holographic storage in electrooptic crystals. Ferroelectrics 22, 949–960 and 961–964 (1979)
L.B. Au, L. Solymar, K.H. Ringhofer: Subharmonics in BSO. In Technical Digest on Photorefractive Materials, Effects and Devices II (Aussois, France 1990) pp. 87–91
B.I. Sturman, A. Bledowski, J. Otten, K.H. Ringhofer: Subharmonics in photorefractive crystals. J. Opt. Soc. Am. B (1992), accepted for publication
B.I. Sturman, A. Bledowski, J. Otten, K.H. Ringhofer: Subharmonics in photorefractive crystals. Sov. JETP (1992), accepted for publication (in Russian)
J.P. Herriau, D. Rojas, J.P. Huignard, J.M. Bassat, J.P. Launay: Highly efficient diffraction in photorefractive BSO-BGO crystals at large applied fields. Ferroelectrics 75, 271–279 (1987)
M. Peltier, F. Micheron: Volume hologram recording and charge transfer process in Bi12SiO20 and Bi12GeO20. J. Appl. Phys. 48, 3683–3690 (1977)
D. Erbschloe, D. Jones, L. Solymar, J. Takacs, T. Wilson: Determination of parameters of photorefractive crystals. In Holographic Systems, Components and Applications (IERE, London, UK 1987) pp. 163–167
R. Sprague: Effect of bulk carriers on prom sensitivity. J. Appl. Phys. 46, 1673–1678 (1975)
G.C. Valley, H. Rajbenbach, H.J. von Bardeleben: Mobility-lifetime product of photoexcited electrons in GaAs. Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 364–366 (1990)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sturman, B.I., Mann, M., Otten, J. et al. Subharmonic generation in photorefractive crystals: Application of theory to experiment. Appl. Phys. A 55, 55–60 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324602
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324602