The electro-optic effect is a change in the optical properties of a material in response to an electric field that varies slowly compared with the frequency of light. The term encompasses a number of distinct phenomena, which can be subdivided into

• a) change of the absorption
  • electroabsorption: general change of the absorption constants
  • Franz-Keldysh effect: change in the absorption shown in some bulk semiconductors
  • Quantum-confined Stark effect: change in the absorption in some semiconductor quantum wells
  • electro-chromatic effect: creation of an absorption band at some wavelengths, which gives rise to a change in colour

• b) change of the refractive index
  • Pockels effect (or linear electro-optic effect): change in the refractive index linearly proportional to the electric field. Only certain crystalline solids show the Pockels effect, as it requires inversion asymmetry
  • Kerr effect (or quadratic electro-optic effect, QEO effect): change in the refractive index proportional to the square of the electric field. All materials display the Kerr effect, with varying magnitudes, but it is generally much weaker than the Pockels effect
  • electro-gyration: change in the optical activity.

It should be noted that changes in absorption can have a strong effect on refractive index for wavelengths near the absorption edge, due to the Kramers-Kronig relation.

Using a less strict definition of the electro-optic effect allowing also electric fields oscillating at optical frequencies, one could also include nonlinear absorption (absorption depends on the light intensity) to category a) and the optical Kerr effect (refractive index depends on the light intensity) to category b). Combined with the photoeffect and photoconductivity, the electro-optic effect gives rise to the photorefractive effect.

The term "electro-optic" is often erroneously used as a synonym for "optoelectronic".

Main applications

Electro-optic modulators

Electro-optic modulators are usually built with electro-optic crystals exhibiting the Pockels effect. The transmitted beam is phase modulated with the electric signal applied to the crystal. Amplitude modulators can be built by putting the electro-optic crystal between two linear polarizers.

Electro-optic deflectors

Electro-optic deflectors utilize prisms of electro-optic crystals. The index of refraction is changed by the Pockels effect, thus changing the direction of propagation of the beam inside the prism. Electro-optic deflectors have only a small number of resolvable spots, but possess a fast response time. There are few commercial models available at this time. This is because of competing acousto-optic deflectors, the small number of resolvable spots and the relatively high price of electro-optic crystals.

Nonlinear optics