Abstract
We report a direct observation of space charge waves in photorefractive crystals with point group 23 (sillenites) based on their penetration into an area with uniform light illumination. It is shown experimentally that the quality factor of the waves increases substantially with respect to what current theory predicts [B. Sturman et al., Appl. Phys. A 55, 235 (1992)]. This results in the appearance of strong spontaneous beams caused by space charge wave self-excitation.
- Received 15 January 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.67
©1997 American Physical Society
