Two-step holographic recording in photorefractive lithium niobate crystals using ultrashort laser pulses

• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-009-3495-y
• Publication Date: 2009-04-01T17:31:06Z
• Authors: C. Nölleke; J. Imbrock; C. Denz
• Keywords: Picosecond; Crystal (programming language); Holographic Data Storage; Diffraction efficiency

We investigate non-volatile holographic data storage in photorefractive lithium niobate crystals. Infrared picosecond laser pulses are used to write holograms after sensitizing the crystal with blue light from a cw-laser. The dependence of the dynamic range and the photoconductivity on the pulse intensities and the recording wavelength is investigated in detail. The results can be explained by a two-center model if the mean intensity of the laser pulses is considered. We demonstrate that several fixed holograms can be multiplexed by employing the wavelength multiplexing technique.