What do you mean by Kerr effect?
The Kerr effect is a nonlinear optical effect which can occur when light propagates in crystals and glasses, but also in other media such as gases. It can be described as a change in refractive index caused by electric fields, and being proportional to the square of the electric field strength.
What is electro-optic coefficient?
Electro-Optic Coefficients. The electro-optic effect occurs when an applied external electric field induces a material polarization in a material where the amount of polarization depends nonlinearly on the external field. The name involves the word optic because the external field is often due to a visible laser beam.
What are electro-optic materials?
Only materials exhibiting the Pockels effect are called electro-optic materials. Some examples for such materials are lithium niobate (LiNbO3), lithium tantalate (LiTaO3), potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) and β-barium borate (BBO).
What is cross Kerr effect?
Kerr electro-optic effect If the material is placed between two “crossed” (perpendicular) linear polarizers, no light will be transmitted when the electric field is turned off, while nearly all of the light will be transmitted for some optimum value of the electric field.
How does a Pockels cell work?
A Pockels cell is a device consisting of an electro-optic crystal (with some electrodes attached to it) through which a light beam can propagate. The phase delay in the crystal (→ Pockels effect) can be modulated by applying a variable electric voltage. The Pockels cell thus acts as a voltage-controlled waveplate.
What is Kerr effect in laser?
Kerr effect. When an intense laser beam passes through a material, the electric field of the beam can induce a change in the refractive index of the material that is proportional to the intensity of the beam. This nonlinear effect is called the Kerr effect. The change in refractive index can be positive or negative.
What is Electro-Optical Engineering?
Electro–optics is a branch of electrical engineering, electronic engineering, materials science, and material physics involving components, devices (e.g. Lasers, LEDs, waveguides etc.) and systems which operate by the propagation and interaction of light with various tailored materials.
How does electro optics work?
Electro-optical sensors typically combine light detection technology with software that controls multiple light sources, bombarding a target with different light waveforms at different angles. The reflected light waves then are analyzed to identify characteristics of the detected object.