The Photorefractive Response of LinbO3:Fe:Mn Crystal Depending on Electrical Properties of its Surroundings

The results of experimental investigation of the impact of ambient surroundings on refractive index inhomogeneity induced in LiNbO :Fe:Mn crystal are presented in the article. The effect of dielectric (ambient air, paraffin oil) and electrically conducting (saturated aqueous solution of CaCl ) media surrounding the sample was investigated. The refractive index inhomogeneity in the sample was created due to photorefractive effect and monitored in real time by means of Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The time dependences of the amplitude of the induced refractive index changes were obtained from captured interferograms. The analysis of the obtained time dependences shows that the temporal behaviour of the inhomogeneity during and after its formation as well as the spatial distribution of the refractive index within the inhomogeneity depends significantly on electric properties of a medium surrounding the crystal sample.