Refractive index changes in lithium niobate crystals by high-energy particle radiation

Journal Article · Sun Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.23.002107· OSTI ID:20860862

Peithmann, Konrad; Zamani-Meymian, Mohammad-Reza; Haaks, Matz; Maier, Karl; Andreas, Birk; Breunig, Ingo ^[1]

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1. Helmholtz-Institut fuer Strahlen- und Kernphysik, Universitaet Bonn, Nussallee 14-16, D-53115 Bonn (Germany)

Irradiation of lithium niobate crystals with 41 MeV {sup 3}He ions causes strong changes of the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indexes. We present a detailed study of this effect. Small fluence of irradiation already yields refractive index changes about 5x10{sup -4}; the highest values reach 3x10{sup -3}. These index modulations are stable up to 100 degree sign C and can be erased thermally, for which temperatures up to 500 degree sign C are required. A direct correlation between the refractive index changes and the produced lattice vacancies is found.

• OSTI ID: 20860862
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics, Vol. 23, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1364/JOSAB.23.002107; (c) 2006 Optical Society of America; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0740-3224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CRYSTALS
HELIUM 3
HELIUM IONS
ION BEAMS
IRRADIATION
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
MEV RANGE 10-100
MODULATION
NIOBATES
REFRACTIVE INDEX
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
VACANCIES