Nonlinear surface waves on the boundary of a photorefractive crystal

Excitation of nonlinear surface waves is studied at the SBN-75 crystal — air interface. The SBN-75 crystal is characterised by the diffusion-type photorefractive nonlinearity, the surface wave being excited in the surface layer and the depth of its penetration into the crystal being determined by the nonlinear crystal parameters. Because of a large refraction coefficient in SBN-75, the penetration depth of the surface wave into the air is small; therefore, the nonlinear surface wave is localised in the surface crystal layer several micrometers in thickness. The oscillating intensity distribution of the surface wave at the output end of the crystal is measured. The oscillation period is determined by the angle of incidence of the exciting beam. The nonlinear wave is excited not only at the crystal — air interface but also in the case when the active surface of the crystal is covered by an electrode, for example, an aquadag layer. This circumstance opens up a possibility of studying new properties of the surface waves when an external electric field is applied to the crystal.