THEORETICAL MODELING OF THE FIXING AND DEVELOPING OF HOLOGRAPHIC GRATINGS IN LINBO3

A mathematical model is developed to account for the fixing and developing behavior of holographic gratings in photorefractive materials such as LiNbO3. All transport processes for the carriers (electrons and protons) are considered. Moreover, unlike in previous studies, the thermal excitation of carriers is taken into account. Two possible experimental procedures that involve fixing during or after writing are theoretically described. The model is applied to simulate the kinetics, overall efficiency, and temperature dependence of the fixing process for LiNbO3:Fe, for which the most experimental information is available. © 1990 Optical Society of America.