Optical and electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of the role of vanadium in photorefractive CdTe:V

Cadmium telluride has been regarded as a material of choice for many envisioned photorefractive applications in the infrared because of its high electrooptic coefficient. We recently demonstrated high beam-coupling gains in CdTe:V using applied electric fields. The prospects of using this gain enhancement mechanism in self-pumped phase conjugators and the experimental demonstration of the theoretically predicted high sensitivity of the photorefractive process in CdTe:V has attracted more attention towards the development and the optimization of the photorefractive properties of this materia1. Experience has shown that vanadium is a proper dopant that results in both high resistivity and efficient photoconductive and photorefractive responses over a wide wavelength range in the infrared. Further development of this material requires an understanding of the role of V in the photorefractive process. We report on photorefractive characterization, optical absorption, photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance of vanadium-doped CdTe. The results of these experiments outline the role of vanadium in the photorefractive process