Study On Photorefractive Self-gating Optical Switching

In this thesis, by contrasting, some advantages and disadvantages of several kinds of optical switching are indicated respectively, and a new method to make optical switching based on volume photographic technology is studied thoroughly. Meanwhile, some issues about this kind of optical switching, such as principle of design and method of facture, are discussed.First, the properties of volume holographic grating, such as diffraction efficiencies, angle and wavelength selectivity, have been theoretically analyzed by using the couple-wave theory. The fundamental principle that photorefractive volume grating is used to make optical switching is presented. The key technologies in making the optical switching, such as selection of recording material, method of encode and recording geometry, are further studied. The research indicate that:(1) The Fe doped lithium niobate (LiNbO3:Fe) should be considered as holographic optical switching recording material at first, due to its available large crystal sizes, which allow for increased capacity and high angular selectivity, long storage lifetime and high diffraction efficiencies.(2) In order to gain maximum diffraction efficiency and highest selectivity sensitivity, a extraordinary polarization geometry recording configuration should be applied.A experimental scheme of phase selective 1x3 holographic optical switching based on volume holographic technology is designed, and preliminary study of experiment is presented.