Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 32, Issue 11, 1116002(2012)
Single Crystal Photo-Elastic Modulator Based on Lithium Niobate Piezoelectric and Photo-Elastic Effect
In order to overcome the disadvantage of Kemp-type photo-elastic modulator such as low modulation efficiency, processing technology difficulty, bulky et al., a photo-elastic modulation mode is proposed. Which uses LiNbO3 crystal piezoelectric properties to produce single crystal photo-elastic modulator. According to the theory of piezoelectric vibration and crystal optics principle, the crystal orientation dependence of physical properties is analyzed, and the relations of displacement and retardation amplitudes over voltage are derived. Then, the cutting-type and the optical path are optimized. The device is designed with dimensions 41 mm×7.7 mm× 17.1 mm in x-, y- and z-direction, 0° cutting angle (x-cut), z-axis for the optical path and electrodes on the xz-surfaces offer basic modulation frequencies at 73.71 kHz corresponding to the longitudinal oscillations in x-direction. Finally, the corresponding experimental equipment is built for the experimental verification; the result shows that: the voltage amplitude to achieve a half-wave retardation amplitude is only about 1.6 V for 633 nm wavelength, and the modulation voltage reduces about 4 times, compared with the LiTaO3 signal-crystal photo-elastic modulator whose cutting-type isn′t optimized.
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Chen Youhua, Zhang Jilong, Wang Yanchao, Wei Haichao, Wang Zhibin, Zhang Rui, Wang Lifu. Single Crystal Photo-Elastic Modulator Based on Lithium Niobate Piezoelectric and Photo-Elastic Effect[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2012, 32(11): 1116002
Category: Materials
Received: May. 24, 2012
Accepted: --
Published Online: Sep. 14, 2012
The Author Email: Youhua Chen (chenyh110512@163.com)