Physical Properties of Lead Molybdate Relevant to Acousto-Optic Device Applications

Abstract

All of the elastic and photoelastic constants of crystalline lead molybdate (PbMoO₄) and various optical and thermal properties of the material have been measured. This information has been used to evaluate the material for a number of practical acousto‐optic device applications. The high figure of merit found in earlier preliminary studies is only 10% smaller than the maximum figure of merit of the material. Thus the material is well suited for acousto‐optic modulator and deflector applications. However, the material is not particularly useful for tunable acousto‐optic filters because the relevant elasto‐optic coefficient is small. Acoustic and optical losses, and changes in sound velocity and index of refraction with temperature, can cause operating limitations in practical devices, and these are discussed.