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Electro-Optic Modulators: 11.1. KDDP - Pockels Cells

Electro-optic modulators operate by inducing birefringence in crystals like KDDP and lithium niobate when a voltage is applied. This causes a phase shift between orthogonal polarization components of light passing through. KDDP cells have high transmission from 350-1500nm, can withstand high power densities, and require consistent voltages regardless of size. They provide high contrast ratios over 1000:1. Lithium niobate cells function from 400-4500nm and have lower voltage requirements than KDDP. Both crystal types are used in applications like Q-switching and pulse shaping inside and outside laser resonators.

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115 views

Electro-Optic Modulators: 11.1. KDDP - Pockels Cells

Electro-optic modulators operate by inducing birefringence in crystals like KDDP and lithium niobate when a voltage is applied. This causes a phase shift between orthogonal polarization components of light passing through. KDDP cells have high transmission from 350-1500nm, can withstand high power densities, and require consistent voltages regardless of size. They provide high contrast ratios over 1000:1. Lithium niobate cells function from 400-4500nm and have lower voltage requirements than KDDP. Both crystal types are used in applications like Q-switching and pulse shaping inside and outside laser resonators.

Uploaded by

Alma Becirovic
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Electro-optic modulators

Operation of electro-optic modulators is based on the


principle of induced birefringence. Pockels cell is
such device which can produce controllable
birefringence by applying voltage to the cell. The cell
contains uniaxial crystal, which becomes biaxial
when electric field is applied. If new axes induced by
the applied electric field are at 45 to the plane of
polarization of the incident beam, the incident beam
is split into two equal orthogonally polarized
components. They propagate in a crystal with
different velocities because of induced different
refraction indexes. Induced birefringence n is
proportional to the applied electric field and on the
crystal length l it gives controlled phase retardation
between these components, which is used for the
incident beam modulation:

nl

where: wavelength of the optical beam.

Voltage sensitivity of the Pockels cell is given by


half-wave voltage (U/2). This is the voltage required
o
for phase retardation of 180 . Often used quarter
wave voltage equals U/4 = U/2 and it is voltage
o
required for = 90 .
There are only two basic designs of Pockels cells:
1.

Pockels cell with longitudinal electro-optic


effect, employing a crystal in which electric
field is applied along the direction of the
optical beam.

2.

Pockels cell with transverse electro-optic


effect, utilizing a crystal in which electric
field is perpendicular to the direction of the
optical beam. For this type of modulator the
half-wave voltage is inversely proportional
to the crystal length and directly
proportional to the distance between
electrodes.

11.1. KDDP Pockels cells

KDDP crystal is a very efficient material for Pockels


cells used in the visible and near infrared spectral
range. This material is available in extremely large
sizes with high optical quality. Its large electro-optic
coefficients give the lowest operating voltages of all
the [x]DP crystal family. Relatively large dielectric
constants also give a high uniformity of electric field
distribution across the crystal aperture. KDDP
crystals are transparent in the range of 350 nm
1500 nm and can operate at very high optical power
densities. These characteristics make KDDP a basic
material for Pockels cells used with very high power
laser systems.
In the most commonly used longitudinal field
configuration KDDP Pockels cells require the same
driving voltages independently of the crystal
aperture. Attainable contrast ratios > 1000:1 make
KDDP Pockels Cells the most suitable for laser-pulse
shortening, shaping and many other applications
outside the laser resonator.

Series C100[x] and C2002 Pockels cells are


manufactured of high quality z-0o cut KDDP crystals
with longitudinal field configuration. The series
include single and double crystal designs. To produce
longitudinal electric field with high uniformity the gold
chromium cylindrical ring electrode system is used.
All units are filled with an index-matching liquid to
protect KDDP crystals from atmospheric water and
to reduce optical losses at the crystal and windows
surfaces. When maximum transmission is important
AR-coated windows can be supplied on special
request.

Data of the whole series KDDP Pockels Cells


Material

KDDP
350 1500 nm

Spectral range
C 100(x)

1000:1

C 2002

800:1

Contrast ratio
Max. power density:

600 MW/cm

Rise time:

< 1 ns

Min pulse duration:

2 ns
standard

/5

on request

/10

Wave front distortion:

Technical specification KDDP Pockels Cells


Type

C 1001

C 1002

Crystal material

C 1003

C 2002

KDDP
8

10 12

10

10

630 nm

1.9

1.9

1.9

0.95

1064 nm

3.2

3.2

3.2

1.6

Max. voltage [kV]

7.5

7.5

7.5

5.0

Capacitance [pF]

10

11

11

12

double
concentric

concentric

Aperture [mm]
Quarter wave voltage [kV]

concentric
Connector
H.V.BNC

BNC

Cell diameter [mm]

35

35

35

36

Cell length [mm]

35

40

35

53

> 98

> 98

> 98

> 97

Max transm. with AR coating [%]


Options:

Modification of the standard types according to your request


Integrated Q-switch (fixed connection with polarizer)
Dry Pockels Cells

Main dimensions:

C 1001

C 1002

C 1003

C 2002

11.2. Lithiumniobate Pockels cells


The Lithiumniobate Pockels Cells are used in the
laser applications for medicine, industry and research.
The Pockels cells are specified for Q-switch
applications inside a laser resonator or for
modulating of a laser beam outside the resonator.
Lithiumniobate is a very suitable crystal for the use in
Pockel Cells because of its special properties. The
most important physical characteristics are the large
electro-optical coefficient, the transparency in the
spectral range from 400 nm up to 4500 nm, and
a high melting point of 1250oC. Because of the
hardness and insolubility the crystal does not need
any additional protection.

The series of C 104[x] Pockels Cells operates in the


transverse field mode with a relative low quarter
wave voltage. Gold chromium electrodes are applied
along two sides of the crystal to provide
a uniform electrical field across the aperture.
Crystals are oriented and cut in such a way as to
provide Z-axis optical propagation.
Because of the high refractive index of LiNbO 3 it is
advisable to coat the crystal with an efficient
antireflection coating. We offer narrow- and broadband antireflection coating for the required
wavelength. The crystal of the C 1045 and C 1045S
is cut at Brewster angle and AR coating is not used.
C1045S is constructed for Er: YAG lasers. It is
closed by sapphire windows and filled with dry
nitrogen. The polarizing effect of Brewster faces
eliminates the need of polarizer.

Data of the whole series LiNbO3 Pockels Cells


Material

LiNbO3

Spectral range

400 nm 4500 nm

Contrast ratio:

200:1

Transmission with AR coating:

98%

Max. power density:

200 MW/cm2, (1 Hz)

Rise time:

app. 2 ns

Min pulse duration:

5 ns
standard

/4

on request

/8

Wave front distortion:

Technical specification LiNbO3 Pockels Cells


Type

C 1041

C 1043

C 1044A

Crystal material
Aperture [mm]
633 nm
Quarter
wave
1064 nm
voltage
3000 nm
[kV]

C 1045

C 1045S

LiNbO3
4

0,350

0,400

0,575

0,575

0,400

0,700

0,800

1,150

1,150

0,800

1,650

Max. voltage [kV]

3.0

Capacitance [pF]

20

Connector

C 1044B

2.5

5
25

terminals

concentric

2 concentric

M2

concentric

HV BNC

Cell diameter [mm]

17

36

36

24 x 40

24 x 50

35

Cell length [mm]

28

34

35

35

36

44

Crystal surface

Plan / plan

Options:

Modification of the standard types


according to your request
Integrated Q-switch (fixed connection
with polarizer)

Brewster

Main dimensions:

C 1041

C 1043

C 1044A

C 1044B

C 1045

Double crystal version


Phase modulators

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