Structure and nonvolatile holographic recording of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals

A series of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals has been grown by Czochralski method. Their infrared transmittance spectra and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra were measured and discussed to investigate their defect structure. The nonvolatile holographic recording of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals was characterized by the two-photon fixed method. We found that the recording time of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals became shorter and nonvolatile diffraction efficiency decreases with the increase of Mg doping concentration, especially doping with Mg approaches and exceeds the so-called threshold. And the nonvolatility vanishes when the concentration of MgO exceeds 4 mol%. The intrinsic and extrinsic defects were discussed to explain the nonvolatile holographic properties in the Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals.