Electro-Optic Effect

Certain materials change their optical properties when subjected to an electric field. This is caused by forces that distort the positions, orientations, or shapes of the molecules constituting the material. The electro-optic effect is the change in the refractive index resulting from the application of a dc or low-frequency electric field.

The dependence of the refractive index on the applied electric field takes one of two forms: The refractive index changes in proportion to the applied electric field, in which case the effect is known as the linear electro-optic effect or the Pockels effect. The refractive index changes in proportion to the square of the applied electric field, in which case the effect is known as the quadratic electro-optic effect or the Kerr effect.

Materials whose refractive index can be modified by means of an applied electric field are useful for producing electrically controllable optical devices, as indicated by the following examples A lens made of a material whose refractive index can be varied is a lens of controllable focal length. A prism whose beam bending ability is controllable can be used as an optical scanning device. Light transmitted through a transparent plate of controllable refractive index undergoes a controllable phase shift. The plate can be used as an optical phase modulator.

Fig: A steady electric field applied to an electro-optic material changes its refractive index. This, in turn, changes the effect of the material on light traveling through it. The electric field therefore controls the light.

An anisotropic crystal whose refractive indices can be varied serves as a wave retarder of controllable retardation; it may be used to change the polarization properties of light

PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRO-OPTICS
POCKELS AND KERR EFFECTS
The refractive index of an electro-optic medium is a function n(E) of the applied electric field E. This function varies only slightly with E so that it can be expanded in a Taylors series about E = 0

where the coefficients of expansion a2= It is conventional to write this equation in terms of two new coefficients

Dependence of the refractive index on the electric field: (a) Pockels medium; (b) Kerr medium.

POCKELS EFFECT
Pockels electro-optic effect, produces birefringence in an optical medium induced by a constant or varying electric Field.

The medium is then known as a Pockels medium (or a Pockels cell). The coefficient r is called the Pockels coefficient or the linear electro-optic coefficient, lies in the range (1 to 100 pm/V). For E = 1000000 V/m the term is of the order of 10-6 to 10-4

KERR EFFECT
The Kerr effect, also called the quadratic electro-optic effect (QEO effect), is a change in the refractive index of a material in response to an applied electric field. The Kerr effect is distinct from the Pockels effect in that the induced index change is directly proportional to the square of the electric field instead of varying linearly with it. All materials show a Kerr effect, but certain liquids display it more strongly than others.

KERR EFFECT
If the material is centrosymmetric, as is the case for gases, liquids, and certain crystals, n(E) must be an even symmetric function-

The material is then known as a Kerr medium (or a Kerr cell). The parameter is called the Kerr coefficient or the quadratic electrooptic coefficient. Typical values of G are in crystals and in liquids. For E = 1000000 V/m the term is oF the order of 10-6 to 10-2 in crystals and 10-1 to 10-7 in liquids.