Enhanced photorefractive properties of Bi-doped Sn2P2S6

International audience; Enhanced photorefractive properties of tin hypothiodiphosphate (Sn2P2S6) crystals as a result of Bi doping are presented. These new crystals were obtained by the vapor-transport technique using stoichiometric Sn2P2S6 composition with an additional amount of Bi up to 0.5 mol. % in the initial compound. The bandgap edges of the obtained crystals are located at ~750 nm and shift toward the red wavelengths with increasing Bi concentration. Sn2P2S6:Bi crystals are found to exhibit larger two-beam coupling gain coefficients (up to 17 cm−1 at a wavelength of 854 nm) as compared to (i) pure Sn2P2S6 (2.5 cm−1 at 854 nm), (ii) Sn2P2S6 crystals modified by the growth conditions…