Parametrical optical effects in Hg-containing superconducting films

Abstract

Optically induced linear electrooptics and elastooptics effects were revealed in superconducting Hg0.85Pb0.18Ba0.13CuO4+δ (Hg-1201) (Tc = 112 K) single crystalline films deposited on an MgO surface. Investigations were done by a fast-resolved set-up, which allowed performing simultaneous measurements of birefringence in different external fields with a precision up to 10−7. It was shown that below the superconducting phase transition the piezooptic and electrooptic coefficients are substantially changed and show tremendous sensitivity to the appearance of superconductivity.