Theory of acousto-electrooptic interaction In anisotropic media, including polarization effects

Abstract

Recent experiments with lithium niobate have confirmed that light polarization has a significant effect on acoustooptic (AO) diffraction in anisotropic media. This effect is also present in electrooptic (EO) diffraction as well as simultaneous acousto-electrooptic (AEO) interaction. This paper develops a theory of AEO interaction, including polarization effects, for both bulk wave and surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Electrooptic and acoustooptic cases are developed separately; the results may be combined to predict AEO diffraction.