A novel method for studying a photorefractive grating

Abstract

Photorefractive gratings can be induced by laser illumination. They have been observed so far using optical methods. In this paper we report the direct measurement of the space charge distribution associated with such a grating, using the pressure wave propagation method. The wavefront of a pressure wave travelling through the sample acts as a virtual probe sensitive to electrical charge or field. The photorefractive grating was produced by means of a spatial distribution of linear polarization of laser light.

Key Words:

• photorefractive effect
• pressure wave propagation method
• La₃ Ga ₅ SiO ₁₄
• Pr^{3 +}