Optically Induced Refractive Index Changes in BaTiO3

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Abstract
The phenomenon of ``optical damage,'' that is, optically induced changes in the index of refraction, can be used as a form of holographic storage in transparent ferroelectric crystals. In this paper we describe a series of experiments which characterize the optical damage in ferroelectric BaTiO3. This is done by recording in a single crystal of the material a plane wave hologram, i.e., a diffraction grating, with a laser at one wavelength and reconstructing the hologram with a laser at another wavelength. The time‐dependence and steady‐state value of the diffracted light is studied with respect to variations in incident light intensity, temperature, writing wavelength, and grating spacing. A model describing the optical damage, based on the work of Chen [F. S. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 40, 3389 (1969)] and Johnston [W. D. Johnston, Jr., J. Appl. Phys. 41, 3279 (1970)] is presented and the results explained in terms of this model.