Abstract

It is established that one of the most sensitive material among ferroelectrics is strontium barium niobate crystals /SBN/ /1/. Holographic information recording makes great demands of optical quality and size of the crystals. The problem of producing optically homogeneous crystals is greatly complicated due to their doping and polarization processes. We have managed to solve these problems and produce crystals suitable for holographic investigations. SBN crystals, both pure and doped, were grown in the air by the Czochralski method and Stepanov’s technique from platinum crucibles and dies. We have grown nominally pure SBN crystals of composition Sr_xBa_1-xNb₂O₆, where x=0.61, x=0.75, and doped with Ce, Ti, Mo, Fe. The crystallization rate for Czochralski-grown SBN bules was 5-6 mm/h, for Stepanov-grown SBN plates and rods was 20-30 mm/h. Typical sizes of crystal bulk were 30mm in diameter and 50mm on length, plate sizes were 2.5x35x100mm, rod sizes were 15x15x80mm and 8x8x105mm.

© 1990 Optical Society of America