Enhanced photorefractive performance from 45°-cut BaTiO_3

We have characterized the photorefractive performance of a special 45 degrees -cut crystal of BaTiO(3) and compared it with the conventional 0 degrees -cut material. An increased peak gain coefficient of 26 cm(-1) was measured using near normal beam incidence. Response times measured were ~1 order of magnitude faster than similar 0 degrees -cut crystals. The effects of an externally applied electric field parallel to the grating wave vector on the gain and response time were investigated. As an application example, the crystal was used to produce efficient and stable self-pumped image phase conjugation.