E-O Crystals ------>> LiNbO₃

LiNbO ₃; is widely used as electro-optic modulator and Q-switch for Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF and Ti:Sapphire lasers as well as modulator for fiber optics, etc. The transverse modulation is mostly employed for LiNbO ₃; crystal.

If the light propagates in z-axis and electric field applies to x-axis, the refractive retardation will be
G = p Lnr22V/ l d. The electro-optic coefficients of LiNbO ₃; are:
r ₃₃ = 32 pm/V, r ₃₁ = 10 pm/V, r ₂₂ = 6.8 pm/V at low frequency
r ₃₃ = 31 pm/V, r ₃₁ = 8.6 pm/V, r ₂₂ = 3.4 pm/V at high electric frequency.

MgO:LiNbO ₃; and ZnO: LiNbO ₃; crystals have similar electro-optic properties to LiNbO ₃; but with higher damage threshold.

The refractive index of an _optical medium is altered by the presence of sound, this is called acousto-optic effect which can be used in many devices include optical modulators, switches, deflectors, filters, frequency shifters and spectrum analyzers. FOCtek provide several kinds of acousto-optic crystals: LiNbO ₃; SAW wafers, LiTaO 3 SAW wafers. TeO2 and PbMnO4 crystals.