Yunping Yang

Photorefractive properties of lithium niobate crystals doped with manganese

The photorefractive properties of lithium niobate crystals doped with manganese (Mn) have been investigated. It is found that the effect of dark decay due to electron tunneling, which is the limiting factor of the highest practical doping level, is less in LiNbO_3:Mn than in LiNbO_3:Fe , and higher doping levels can be used in LiNbO_3:Mn to achieve larger dynamic range and sensitivity for holographic applications. The highest practical doping level in LiNbO_3:Mn has been found to be ~0.5 wt.% MnCO_3, and refractive-index changes and sensitivities up to 1.5X10^-3 and 1.3 cm/J are measured for extraordinarily polarized light of the wavelength 458 nm. It has been found that, in terms of both dynamic range (or refractive-index change) and sensitivity, the optimal oxidation state is highly oxidized. The distribution coefficient of Mn has been determined to be ~1. Absorption measurements are used to obtain more information about charge-transport parameters. The material is excellently suited for holographic recording with blue light. The hologram quality is outstanding because holographic scattering is much weaker compared with that in, e.g., iron-doped lithium niobate. Thermal fixing has been successfully demonstrated in LiNbO_3:Mn crystals.

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

The lifetimes of nonfixed holograms in LiNbO3:Fe crystals with doping levels of 0.05, 0.138, and 0.25 wt % Fe2O3 have been measured in the temperature range from 30 to 180 °C. The time constants of the dark decay of holograms stored in crystals with doping levels of 0.05 and 0.25 wt % Fe2O3 obey an Arrhenius-type dependence on absolute temperature T, but yield two activation energies: 1.0 and 0.28 eV, respectively. For these crystals, two different dark decay mechanisms are prevailing, one of which is identified as proton compensation and the other is due to electron tunneling between sites of Fe2 + and Fe3 + . The dark decay of holograms stored in crystals with the doping level of 0.138 wt % Fe2O3 is the result of a combination of both effects.

Photorefractive recording in LiNbO3:Mn

The dynamic range, sensitivity, and dark decay of holographic recording of wavelength 458 nm in LiNbO(3) crystals doped with 0.2-at. % Mn with different oxidation states have been measured. The measured sensitivity is 0.5 cm/J and is found to be independent of the oxidation state, and the largest M/# obtained is 12/mm (extraordinary light polarization; light wavelength, 458 nm). This combination of very large M/# and high sensitivity is in strong contrast with results for LiNbO(3):Fe for which a direct trade-off exists between M/# and sensitivity. The activation energy of the dark decay of holograms stored in these LiNbO(3):Mn crystals is ~1.0 eV , which is characteristic of proton compensation and leads to a projected lifetime of holograms of three years at room temperature.

Comparison of transmission and the 90-degree holographic recording geometry

We compare the system performances of two holographic recording geometries using iron-doped lithium niobate: the 90-degree and transmission geometry. We find that transmission geometry is better because the attainable dynamic range (M/#) is much higher. The only drawback of transmission geometry is the buildup of fanning, particularly during readout. Material solutions that reduce fanning such as doubly-doped photerefractive crystals make transmission geometry the clear winner.

Consumer Holographic ROM Reader with Mastering and Replication Technology

A novel holographic ROM design allows a compact low-cost consumer drive with lensless readout in a 10 mm drive height. A two-step mastering method enables high-efficiency holographic masters for fast replication using planewave illuminations

Mechanisms of the dark decay of holograms in LiNbO/sub 3/:Fe crystals

Summary form only given. Two mechanisms of dark decay, proton compensation and electron tunneling have been identified. In LiNbO/sub 3/:Fe with doping levels less than 0.05 wt%, proton compensation dominates the dark decay, while in crystals with doping levels as high as 0.25 wt%, electron tunneling dominates. For crystals with doping levels between 0.05 wt% and 0.25 wt%, both mechanisms contribute significantly to the dark decay, and the single Arrhenius law does not hold anymore with a single activation energy.