Structure and optical damage resistance of Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals

The new non-volatile holographic storage materials, Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals, were prepared by Czochralski technique. Their microstructure was measured and analyzed by infrared (IR) transmission spectra. The optical damage resistance of Zn:Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals was characterized by the transmitted beam pattern distortion method. It increases remarkably when the concentration of ZnO is over a threshold concentration. Its value in Zn(7.0 mol%):Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystal is about three orders of magnitude higher that in Mn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystal. The photoinduced birefringence change was measured by the Sénarmont's method. It decreased with ZnO concentration increasing. The dependence of the defects on the optical damage resistance was discussed.