Pockels effect

As a Pockels effect (named after Friedrich Pockels ), also known as a linear electro-optical effect, the occurrence of birefringence or the change is referred to in particular crystals, to which an electric voltage is applied. The change in birefringence is linear to the change in the electric field strength of the applied electric field.

Describes the effect of the modulation of the refractive index of a material by an electric field according to the formula

And occurs almost instantaneously. It referred

  • Unmodified refractive index of the material in the chosen geometry
  • The effective electro-optic tensor of the crystal orientation and polarization of the light depends
  • The electric field.

The effect can be used, inter alia, in the Pockels cell to induce in birefringent crystals by selective modification of the refractive index of the phase differences, which in turn can lead to polarization rotation.

In addition, can be described by the Pockels effect, the refractive index modulation in non- centrosymmetric photorefractive crystals; however occurs only on the Kerr effect in centrosymmetric crystals

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