Nonvolatile photorefractive holograms in LiNbO(3):CuCe crystals

We report experimental and theoretical studies of nonvolatile photorefractive holographic recording in LiNbO(3):Cu:Ce crystals with two illumination schemes: (1) UV light for sensitization and a red interfering pattern for recording and (2) blue light for sensitization and a red pattern for recording. The results show that the oxidized LiNbO(3):Cu:Ce crystals can provide high, persistent refractive-index modulation with weak light-induced scattering. The optimal working conditions and the prescription for doping and oxidation-reduction processing that yields the maximum refractive-index modulation are discussed.