Photorefractive Beam-Coupling in BSO Crystals in Near Infrared

Abstract

Dynamic holographic recording in sillenite type photorefractive crystals Bi12SiO20 (BSO)1 is very carefully investigated in visible region of spectrum. Two promising techniques (recording by the moving or oscillating light fringes in DC electric field or recording by stable fringes in AC electric field) were proposed to improve the beam coupling efficiency in these materials; the gain factor up to 6.12cm−1 is now obtained2,3. Present paper describes the first study of the dynamic coupling of two light beams in BSO crystals in near infrared. The measured values of the gain factor indicate the possibility of the development of coherent oscillators pumped by semiconductor lasers (including passive phase conjugating mirrors).