Nonlinear Optics, 3rd Edition

Chapter 11 The Electrooptic and Photorefractive Effects

11.1. Introduction to the Electrooptic Effect

The electrooptic effect is the change in refractive index of a material induced by the presence of a static (or low-frequency) electric field.

In some materials, the change in refractive index depends linearly on the strength of the applied electric field. This change is known as the linear electrooptic effect or Pockels effect. The linear electrooptic effect can be described in terms of a nonlinear polarization given by

Since the linear electrooptic effect can be described by a second-order nonlinear susceptibility, it follows from the general ...