18. 18.

Electro-optics Electro-optics

(Introduction) Linear Optics and Nonlinear Optics

Linear Optics
z The optical properties, such as the refractive index and the absorption coefficient are independent of light intensity. z The principle of superposition holds. z The frequency of light cannot be altered through the medium. z Light cannot interact with light; two beams of light in the same region of a linear optical medium can have no effect on each other. Thus light cannot see other lights.

Nonlinear optics (NLO)

z The refractive index, and consequently the speed of light in an optical medium, does change with the light intensity. z The principle of superposition is violated. z Light can alter its frequency as it passes through a nonlinear optical material (e.g., from red to blue!). z Light can interact with light via the medium Thus light cannot see other lights, but, light can control other lights via the nonlinear medium.

(Introduction)

Nonlinear effects in Optics

Polarization : P = 0 E Susceptibility : = 1 + 2 E + 3 E 2 + "

D = E = 0 E + 0 E = 0 (1 + ) n = v = = 1+ c 0

P = P1 + P2 + P3 + " = 0 1 E + 0 2 E 2 + 0 3 E 3 + "

Here we will discuss on electro-optic Pockels and Kerr effects

(Introduction)

Second-order Nonlinear effects P2 = 0 2 E

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) and rectification

E = E ( ) optical P2 E 2 ( )

P2 ( ) = P2 ( 2 ), P2 (0)

Frequency doubling Rectification

Electro-optic (EO) effect (Pockells effect)

E = E (0) electrical , DC + E ( ) optical

{but, E (0) >> E ( ) }

P2 E 2

P2 (0) E 2 (0) , P2 ( ){ E (0) E ( )}, P2 (2 ){ E ( ) E ( )}

P2 (0), P2 ( ){ E (0) E ( )} n E (0) electric , DC Index modulation by DC E-field

Three-wave mixing

E = E (1 ) optical + E (2 ) optical

P2 E 2

P2 (21 ) E 2 (1 ) , P2 (22 ) E 2 (2 ) , P2 (1 + 2 ){ E (1 ) E (2 )}, P2 (1 2 ){ E (1 ) E (2 )}

SHG

Frequency up-converter Parametric amplifier, parametric oscillator

(Introduction)

Third-order Nonlinear effects

Third-harmonic generation (THG)

P3 = 0 3 E 3

E = E ( ) optical P3 E 3 ( ) P3 ( ) E ( ) E ( ) , P3 (3 ){ E 3 ( )}
2

Frequency tripling

Electro-optic (EO) Kerr effect

E = E (0) electrical , DC + E ( ) optical

2

{but, E (0) >> E ( ) }

2

P3 ( ) E (0) electric , DC E ( ) n E (0) electric , DC

Optical Kerr effect

Index modulation by DC E2

P3 ( ) E ( ) E ( ) I ( ) E ( ) n I ( )
2

Index modulation by optical Intensity

n = n0 + n( I ) = 0 + (= k0 nL) n = n0 + n{I ( x)} n{I ( x)} > n0

n = n0 + n{I ( x )} n{I ( x )} < n0

Self-phase modulation

Self-focusing, Self-guiding (Spatial solitons) Self-defocusing

(Introduction)

Third-order Nonlinear effects

Four-wave mixing

P3 = 0 3 E 3

E = E (1 ) optical + E (2 ) optical + E (3 ) optical

P3 E 3 ( 1 ,2 ,3 ) 63 = 216 terms
3

One example : P3 (1 + 2 + 3 4 ) E (1 ) E (2 ) E (3 ) If 1 = 2 = 3 4 = 3
THG

Frequency up-converter

Another example : P3 (1 + 2 - 3 4 ) E (1 ) E ( 2 ) E * (3 )

1 + 2 = 3 + 4 If 1 = 2 = 3 = 4
Degenerate four-wave mixing

If we assume two waves among them are plane waves traveling in opposite directions
P3 ( 4 = ) E ( ) E ( ) E * ( )
Optical phase conjugation

18.1 18.1 Principles Principlesof ofElectro-optic Electro-opticeffects effects

The electro-optic effect is the change in the refractive index resulting from the application of a DC or low-frequency electric field.

Linear electro-optic effect or Pockels effect : The refractive index changes in proportion to the applied electric field. Quadratic electro-optic effect or Kerr effect : The refractive index changes in proportion to the square of the applied electric field.

Pockels effect and Kerr effect

Polarization : P = 0 E Susceptibility : = 1 + 2 E + 3 E 2 + "

n = (1 + )

( E ) = 0 + rE + RE 2
3 3 2 1 n( E ) = n0 1 rn E Rn 0 0E 2 2

Pokels Effect

Kerr Effect

Pockels Pockels effect effect (Linear (Linear electro-optic electro-optic effect) effect)
1 ( E ) = + rE ( = 2 ) n 1 dn d ( E ) 3 = 2 3 = r dn = 1 rn (dE ) 2 dE n dE

1 3 n( E ) = n + dn = n rn E 2
Pockels coefficient (linear electro-optic coefficient)

Kerr Kerr effect effect (Quadratic (Quadratic electro-optic electro-optic effect) effect)

Electro-optic Electro-optic modulators modulators and and switches switches

Phase modulators ( Pockels cell)

1 n( E ) = n + dn = n rn3 E 2

Phase modulators ( Pockels cell)

Dynamic wave retarders

Pockels cell
L

SA (n1)

FA (n2)

Intensity modulators : Use of an interferometer

Intensity modulators : Use of crossed polarizers

Scanners : electro-optic prisms

Position switch

Directional couplers

Spatial light modulators (SLM)

Q-switching lasers

18.2 18.2 Electro-optics Electro-optics of of anisotropic anisotropic media media

where ij = ji

11 =

1 1 1 ; ; = = 22 33 2 2 n12 n2 n3

Pockels and Kerr coefficients

Impermeability at E = 0 ( 32 = 9 elements ) : Linear E-O (Pockels) coefficients ( 33 = 27 elements )

: Quardratic E-O (Kerr) coefficients ( 34 = 81 elements )

Symmetry in Pockels and Kerr coefficients

6 independent elements (6 x 3) independent elements (6 x 6) independent elements

It is conventional to rename the pair of indices (i, j), i, j = 1,2,3 as a single index I = 1, 2,..., 6. (k, l), k, l = 1,2,3 as a single index K = 1, 2,..., 6.

Pockels effect
The index ellipsoid is modified as a result of applying a steady electric field. To determine the optical properties of an anisotropic material exhibiting the Pockels effect, (that is, to find modified principal refractive indices)

Example 18.2-1. Find the index change of uniaxial crystal by E = Ez

E
r113 = r13 ; r123 = r63 = 0; r133 = r53 = 0 r223 = r23 = r13 ; r213 = r63 = 0; r233 = r43 = 0 r333 = r33 = r13 ; r313 = r53 = 0; r323 = r43 = 0
Only rij 3 ( E ) 0 for i = j

ij ( E ) = ij (0) + rij 3 E
(11 (0) + r13 E ) x12 =
11 ( E ) x + 22 ( E ) x + 33 ( E ) x = 1
2 1 2 2 2 3

1 + r13 E x12 2 no 1 2 + r13 E x2 2 no

(22 (0) + r13 E ) x22 = (33 (0) + r13 E ) x32 =

1 2 + r33 E x3 2 ne

Example 18.2-1.

When an electric field is applied along the optic axis of this uniaxial crystal, it remains uniaxial with the same principal axes, but its refractive indices are modified.

Homework Homework
Derive their final principal refractive indices, in DETAIL step-by-step.