Polarization Analysis of Light Propagating in Electro-Optic Crystals with Static Birefringence and Its Application to Sensor Design

概要

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We analyzed the polarization states of light propagating in an electro-optic (EO) crystal with static birefringence. The analysis is based on a model in which the crystal consists of thin layers with the electro-optic effect and thin layers with static birefringence in an alternating sequence. The Jones matrix that represents the crystal was derived from the model. We also calculated the Jones matrix representing an EO crystal with optical activity because optical activity is considered to be a kind of static birefringence. Using the Jones matrices, we analyzed the polarization states of light modulated through an EO crystal with residual static birefringence and that with optical activity. It was shown that the modulation depth is decreased both by residual static birefringence and by optical activity. We obtained conditions to minimize the drop of the modulation depth. We also experimentally investigated the modulation depth using CdTe and Bi12SiO20, which are EO crystals possessing residual static birefringence and optical activity, respectively. The experimental results agreed well with the calculated results. The obtained conditions which minimize the drop of the modulation depth are valid for designing sensitive sensors using various EO crystals.
Published by the Japan Society of Applied Physics through the Institute of Pure and Applied Physicsの論文
2008-02-25