Space-charge-controlled electro-optic effect: Optical beam deflection by electro-optic effect and space-charge-controlled electrical conduction

This paper describes the experimental and theoretical studies of an anomalous optical beam deflection phenomenon based on electrooptic effect and space-charge-controlled electrical conduction. In the experiment, a large deflection angle of 250mrad (=14.3°) has been observed by applying ±250V to a 0.5‐mm-thick KTa1−xNbxO3 crystal with a short interaction length of 5.0mm. The crystal has a rectangular shape with uniform electrodes and there is no prism shape involved which is a common geometrical shape of crystal, electrode, or ferroelectric domain in the conventional electro-optic deflectors. The operating principle is investigated and it is found that the space-charge-controlled electrical conduction in the crystal plays an essential role in this deflection phenomenon. The electrical conduction is carried by electrons injected from the Ohmic contact of the electrode with the crystal. The injected electrons induce the space-charge effect and the electric field becomes nonuniform between the electrodes. The...