Space-charge-controlled electro-optic effect: Optical beam deflection by electro-optic effect and space-charge-controlled electrical conduction

This paper describes the experimental and theoretical studies of an anomalous optical beam deflection phenomenon based on electrooptic effect and space-charge-controlled electrical conduction. In the experiment, a large deflection angle of 250 mrad (=14.3 degrees) has been observed by applying +/- 250 V to a 0.5-mm-thick KTa1-xNbxO3 crystal with a short interaction length of 5.0 mm. The crystal has a rectangular shape with uniform electrodes and there is no prism shape involved which is a common geometrical shape of crystal, electrode, or ferroelectric domain in the conventional electro-optic deflectors. The operating principle is investigated and it is found that the space-charge-controlled electrical conduction in the crystal plays an essential role in this deflection phenomenon. The electrical conduction is carried by electrons injected from the Ohmic contact of the electrode with the crystal. The injected electrons induce the space-charge effect and the electric field becomes nonuniform between the electrodes. The theoretical analysis shows that the electric field has a square-root dependence on the distance from the cathode. As a result, a linearly graded refractive index is induced by the electrooptic Kerr effect of the crystal and the optical beam is cumulatively deflected as it propagates in the crystal. We named this effect the "space-charge-controlled electro-optic effect" and the factors related to the onset of this effect are also discussed. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.