Abstract

The passive and the electrically induced birefringences and retardations in LiNbO₃ crystals have been calculated for all directions of propagation near the optic axis and for a field direction in the x–y plane. In two special directions, parallel to the induced orthorhombic principal axes, the passive and induced retardations are exactly additive. In other directions the retardation is not a linear function of the field. By rotation about these axes, any desired degree of optical biasing may be obtained without degradation of the electro-optic modulation. Experiments with rotation for a quarter-wave bias have shown that useful modulation may be achieved without compensator waveplates.

© 1969 Optical Society of America

Piezo-Optical Birefringence Modulators: New Use for a Long-Known Effect

James C. Kemp
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(8) 950-954 (1969)

The Electro-Optic Effect in Uniaxial Crystals of the Dihydrogen Phosphate (XH₂PO₄) Type. IV. Angular Field of the Electro-Optic Shutter*

Bruce H. Billings
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 42(1) 12-20 (1952)

Linear Electro-Optic (Pockels) Effect in Hexamethylenetetramine: Influence of Crystal Strain

Robert W. Lee
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(12) 1574-1580 (1969)

Linear Electro-Optic Effects in Tetragonal Phosphates and Arsenates

R. S. Adhav
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(4) 414-418 (1969)

Saturation of Scintillation Magnitude in Near-Earth Optical Propagation*

Paul H. Deitz and Neal J. Wright
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(5) 527-535 (1969)