Two-step photorefractive effect in rare-earth-doped ferroelectric crystals

We have demonstrated non-volatile holographic storage with two-photon, two-step recording in rare-earth doped ferroelectric crystals using cw lasers. Single photon erasure during the read out at near infrared wavelengths was found to be negligible. This progress paves the way to the realization of an economically viable, non-volatile read/write holographic recording system based on low cost semiconductor diode lasers.