Speed and diffraction efficiency in feedback-controlled running holograms for photorefractive crystal characterization

Abstract.

We report the measurement of the diffusion length, the Debye screening length and the quantum efficiency of photoelectron generation in strongly light absorbing photorefractive Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ crystals, using fringe-locked running hologram experiments. The effective applied electric field inside the sample is also computed and self-diffraction is considered. The novelty here, as compared to formerly reported experiments, is that the diffraction efficiency is now measured simultaneously with the hologram speed v. From these data the above referred to photorefractive and experimental parameters are obtained without the need for additional experiments. The method is used to analyze two photorefractive Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ crystal samples, in different experimental conditions, using the 514.5 nm wavelength. The computed parameters are in good agreement with the available information about these samples.