Abstract

The optical properties of an optically active electrooptic crystal are analyzed. The coexistence of optical rotation and electrically induced birefringence is shown to limit the performance of an electrooptic light modulator of the usual type. A more general design for a light modulator is described which permits compensation of the optical activity, thus removing this limiting effect. Experiments performed using crystals of sodium thioantimonate gave results consistent with the analysis.

© 1964 Optical Society of America

The Dielectric and Electrooptical Properties of a Molecular Crystal–Hexamine

G. H. Heilmeier
Appl. Opt. 3(11) 1281-1287 (1964)

Electro-Optic Light Modulation with Cubic Crystals

C. F. Buhrer, L. R. Bloom, and D. H. Baird
Appl. Opt. 2(8) 839-846 (1963)

Strain Effects in Electrooptic Light Modulators

I. P. Kaminow
Appl. Opt. 3(4) 511-515 (1964)

Polarization properties of photorefractive diffraction in electrooptic and optically active sillenite crystals (Bragg regime)

A. Marrakchi, R. V. Johnson, and A. R. Tanguay
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(2) 321-336 (1986)

Complete polarization conversion using one crystal with dual transverse Pockels effect

Changsheng Li
Appl. Opt. 47(13) 2241-2251 (2008)