Oscillating photocurrents are generated in a photorefractive iron-doped bar
ium calcium titanate crystal (Ba0.77Ca0.23TiO3; BCT) by illumination with a
n oscillating interference pattern. Non-steady-state photocurrents arise us
ually from the interaction of a space-charge field with an oscillating phot
oconductivity pattern. However, a second-harmonic signal of the oscillating
photocurrents is observed in BCT, which is present without any space-charg
e field. The main features of the new effect can be explained by considerat
ion of a dynamic, i.e., time-dependent, bulk photovoltaic effect. The effec
t might be useful for optically addressed memories or optical correlators.
(C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(99)01710-5].