Electrostriction and strain-optic phenomena in PLZT 9/65/35

Abstract The quadratic electro-optic effect in ‘slim-loop’ PLZT ceramic materials is associated with electro-strictive strain, the strain-optic contribution forming a significant fraction of the total electro-optic effect. Clamped and unclamped quadratic electro-optic coefficients of 1.5 × 10−16 and 4.3 × 10−16 m2 V−2 have been measured in PLZT 9/65/35. Substantial ‘ringing’ of optical transmission in unclamped modulators is attributed to under-damped relaxation of electro-strictive strain.