Dielectric materials for electrooptic, elastooptic, and ultrasonic device applications

In order to realize the advantages of using lasers for communications, means must be obtained to modulate with sufficient bandwidth and capacity, deflect, switch, frequency translate, or otherwise effect a modification of the optical beam in a predictable manner. This problem has provided the incentive for extensive materials research directed toward the development of any crystal capable of low-loss optical transmission whose properties can be modified by an electric or magnetic field or applied external stress, and whose properties, at the same time, will interact in some specified manner with the optical beam. In this paper some dielectric materials for these uses currently in various stages of development will be described.