Abstract

We investigate propagation of one-dimensional Gaussian beam in the optical active BSO crystal with ac external electric field. It was shown that the beam exhibits polarization self-modulation in transverse direction which is different for each half-cycle of the applied field. The polarization self-modulation leads to the beam self-bending that depends on input polarization of the beam. As a result, the crystal acts as nonlinear polarization beam splitter. The self-induced beam scattering is observed, that is caused by strong space-charge field gradient in the center of the beam. The effects of optical activity and crystal orientation are discussed.

© 1999 Optical Society of America