Reduced space-charge fields in near-stoichiometric LiTaO 3 for blue, violet, and near-ultraviolet light beams

The wavelength dependence of the space-charge field as induced in near-stoichiometric LiTaO3 crystals is investigated by measuring the bulk photogalvanic effect and the photoconductivity. LiTaO3 crystals of composition nearer to stoichiometry exhibit a pronounced reduction of the saturated space-charge field, which results from a larger increase in the photoconductivity relative to the photogalvanic effect. Especially, at near-UV wavelengths, the saturated space-charge field of the order of 0.1 kV/cm reaches a minimum that is two orders of magnitude lower than typical values observed in undoped near-stoichiometric LiNbO3.