OH− absorption and one-color holographic recording in Ru:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals varied co-doped with HfO2

• Lithium niobate crystals triply doped Hf, Ru and Fe were grown for the first time.
• The OH− absorption spectra and Lorentzian fitting were employed to analyze the defect structures.
• The optimal one-color holographic recording were demonstrated in Hf(5 mol%):Ru:Fe:LiNbO3 crystal.

A series of Ru:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals with various doping concentrations of HfO2 were grown by the Czochralski technique. Their defect structures were analyzed by the infrared absorption spectra and the Lorentzian fitting. The one-color holographic storage characteristics of these crystals were investigated by means of two-wavelength technology. The experimental results showed that fast response time of 12.7 s and high one-color holographic recording sensitivity of 0.53 cm/J were obtained in Hf(5 mol%):Ru:Fe:LiNbO3 crystal, meanwhile the fixed diffraction efficiency was as high as 44.3%. These results indicated Hf, Ru and Fe co-doped LiNbO3 crystals were outstanding media for holographic storage applications.