Optically induced ferroelectric domain gratings in SBN: theory and applications to quasi-phase matching and optical data storage

Illuminating a photoconducting strontium barium niobate crystal with a low intensity optical standing wave generates dynamic as well as remnant polarization gratings. We study the kinetics of these gratings and present a thermodynamic model for the grating formation. Fundamentally, light induced space charge fields dynamically modify the positions of ions within the unit cell and tailor the electronic, optical, and acoustic properties of the material.