High-sensitive holographic storage in Ce-doped SBN

High optical sensitivity is observed in 0.1 wt% Ce-doped strontium barium niobate (SBN) crystals in the absence of an external electric field. Only 5–10 mJ/cm2 of incident 0.488-μm radiation is required to produce 10% diffraction efficiency, while the energy to erase holograms from the 80% to its 1/e diffraction efficiency level is 30–40 mJ/cm2 at the same wavelength. Holograms stored in Ce-doped SBN persist at least one month (decay time constant) if kept in the dark at room temperature.