Photorefractive effect and photochromism in the Fe-doped relaxor ferroelectric crystal Pb(Zn1∕3Nb2∕3)O3-PbTiO3

Abstract

The photorefractive properties of the iron-doped Pb(Zn1∕3Nb2∕3)O3-PbTiO3 (PZN-PT) relaxor ferroelectric single crystals were investigated by two-beam coupling experiments. The Fe:0.01wt%- and the Fe:0.1wt%-doped 0.91PZN-0.09PT single crystals were grown with the flux solution method. The Extinction spectrum, the electro-opric coefficient, the light-induced absorption change, and the photoconductivity were measured in these samples. The maximum gain coefficient reached to 21cm−1, which is about twice as large as that of undoped PZN-PT. The grating formation rate decreases with the Fe concentration.