The influence of reconstruction-wave polarization and circular dichroism on diffraction efficiency of a reflection hologram recorded in a cubic optically active photorefractive absorbing piezoelectric crystal

A system of coupled-wave equations suitable for description of diffraction and interaction of elliptically polarized light waves in a volume phase-amplitude holographic grating formed in a cubic optically active photorefractive absorbing piezoelectric crystal is derived in the slowly varying amplitude approximation. The dependence of diffraction efficiency of a phase reflection hologram on reconstruction-wave ellipticity and thickness of (001)- and (111)-cut Bi$_{12}$SiO$_{20}$ crystals is investigated. Trends in influence of circular dichroism on diffraction efficiency of a phase reflection hologram are analyzed. It is established that maximum value of diffraction efficiency of reflection hologram as a function of thickness of a (001)-cut crystal can be achieved when using a reconstruction wave of both linear and elliptical polarization. Maximum diffraction efficiency for (111)-cut crystals is achieved with a linearly polarized reconstruction wave. It is demonstrated that the influence of circular dichroism on reconstructed-wave intensity depends on crystal orientation, ellipticity of the reconstruction wave, and crystal thickness.