Dynamic range of photorefractive holograms for optical signal processing

Results of an experimental investigation of the dynamic range of the photorefractive effect in several ferroelectric crystals are described in the context of adaptive filtering applications. The results indicate a very large (greater than 80 dB) dynamic range for several samples; the dynamic range is shown to be limited by noise processes inherent in the crystals. The large photorefractive dynamic range of the ferroelectric signals investigated should prove useful for signal processing and computing applications.