Nonvolatile holographic storage in iron-doped lithium tantalate with continuous-wave laser light

Holograms have been recorded in congruent LiTaO(3):Fe with continuous-wave laser light by use of a two-step process. Blue gating light (lambda=488 nm) sensitizes the crystals for holographic recording with red light (lambda=660 nm) of a diode laser. Refractive-index changes of as much as 1.0x10(-5) are achieved for intensities of the red light of 1 W/cm(2) . The saturation values are proportional to the intensity of the writing light. Nondestructive readout with red light is possible, and the holograms remain erasable for blue light.