Optical and holographic properties of Bi4Ge3O12 crystals doped with ruthenium

Abstract

Bi4Ge3O12 single crystals doped with different concentration of Ru were grown by the Czochralski technique. Optical absorption bands were induced by illumination with ultraviolet light at room temperature. The absorption coefficient values increased with increasing ruthenium concentration. The induced photochromic effect was completely reversible: all samples recovered their transparency after thermal treatment. Preliminary holographic recording experiments showed a fast response time and a relatively slow erase time during the reading process. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.