Abstract

The diffraction from laser induced gratings is investigated in CdS at low temperatures in the spectral region close to the absorption edge. The coherent, monochromatic laser beams of about 3 nsec temporal halfwidth coincide on the sample under an angle of 1,6° forming a grating with a period of 17,4 μm. The sample thickness is about 7 μm, so we are dealing with a "thin" grating. The intensities of the beams are varied from about 50 W/cm² to 10⁶ W/cm², either by simultaneously attenuating both beams (so keeping their ratio constant) or by changing only one intensity, while the other is fixed.

© 1984 Optical Society of America