Abstract

Single-crystal fibers of strontium barium niobate grown by the laser-heated pedestal technique are particularly attractive for holographic optical processing.^1-1 C-axis fibers of Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ (SBN:61), in which the optical c-axis coincides with the growth axis, have been shown to store holograms in a reflection geometry.¹ In this configuration., the strength of the grating depends on the space-charge field and the r_]3 electro-optic coefficient (50 pm/V). A-axis fibers, in which the optical c-axis is perpendicular to the growth axis, permit access to tire stronger f'33 coefficient (250 pm/V) by using transmission gratings,^3,4 which, for typical impurity concentrations, result in a stronger space-charge field. These fibers, or crystallites, typically have diameters of 100-500 pm and are prepared with lengths of less than 1 cm; therefore, they essentially behave as light-confining bulk materials and are not in general subject to the restrictions of fewmode fibers.

© 1993 Optical Society of America