Two-photon holographic recording in LiTaO3:Fe crystals with high intensity nanosecond pulses at 532 nm

Recording the volume holograms in LiTaO3 with high intensity (up to 11 GW/cm2) nanosecond pulses was considered in this study. A very compact Nd:YVO4 laser with the pulse duration of 1.7 ns at λ = 530 nm was used for the recording. Four congruent LiTaO3 samples with the iron contents ranging from 3.3 × 1017 to 700 × 1017 см−3 were selected for the experimental observation. In the LiTaO3:Fe crystal (CFe = 66 × 1017 см−3), the microhologram recording by the single nanosecond pulse with as high refractive index change as 7.6 × 10−4 was carried out. In the same sample, the maximum refractive index change of 29.8 × 10−4 was reached under the exposition to a train of four pulses. The qualitative charge transport model taking into account a recording with high intensity nanosecond pulses was proposed. •Recording the volume holograms in LiTaO3 with high intensity (up to 11 GW/cm2) nanosecond pulses was considered.•The microhologram recording by the single nanosecond pulse with as high refractive index change as 7.6 × 10−4 was carried out.•The qualitative model of charge excitation, migration and trapping is proposed.