Electric-field-induced optical path length change in LiNbO3:MgO crystals: spatial anisotropy analysis.

In this paper we describe the methodology behind the calculation of the indicative surfaces (ISs) of the electric-field-induced optical path length change (EFIOPC) in anisotropic crystal materials accounting for the piezoelectric deformation. It is considered in detail for a particular case of 3m point group symmetry and applied to LiNbO(3) single crystals doped with 7 mol. % MgO (hereafter LiNbO(3):MgO). The contribution of the inverse piezoelectricity into EFIOPC appears to be considerable and, in many cases, modifying, for instance, the spherical coordinates of the extreme directions or even leading to the appearance of new directional maxima on relevant ISs. The ISs of EFIOPC are of considerable practical importance as they allow us to determine an optimal geometry for electro-optic coupling. The spatial anisotropic analysis of EFIOPC in LiNbO(3):MgO crystals suggests that the lowest effective driving voltage is provided by electro-optic cells representing the rectangular slabs of X/50° crystal cut. The modulation efficiency of such electro-optic cells is about 1.5 times better than ones fabricated in the usual way (i.e., as rectangular crystal slabs with the faces parallel to the principal crystallographic directions).