Electrooptic Effect in Optically Active Crystals

Abstract

The optical properties of an optically active electrooptic crystal are analyzed. The coexistence of optical rotation and electrically induced birefringence is shown to limit the performance of an electrooptic light modulator of the usual type. A more general design for a light modulator is described which permits compensation of the optical activity, thus removing this limiting effect. Experiments performed using crystals of sodium thioantimonate gave results consistent with the analysis.