Ferroelectric crystals with giant electro-optic property enabling ultracompact Q-switches

Publication Name

Science

Abstract

Relaxor-lead titanate (PbTiO3) crystals, which exhibit extremely high piezoelectricity, are believed to possess high electro-optic (EO) coefficients. However, the optical transparency of relaxor-PbTiO3 crystals is severely reduced as a result of light scattering and reflection by domain walls, limiting electro-optic applications. Through synergistic design of a ferroelectric phase, crystal orientation, and poling technique, we successfully removed all light-scattering domain walls and achieved an extremely high transmittance of 99.6% in antireflection film–coated crystals, with an ultrahigh EO coefficient r33 of 900 picometers per volt (pm V−1), >30 times as high as that of conventionally used EO crystals. Using these crystals, we fabricated ultracompact EO Q-switches that require very low driving voltages, with superior performance to that of commercial Q-switches. Development of these materials is important for the portability and low driving voltage of EO devices.

Open Access Status

This publication is not available as open access

Volume

376

Issue

6591

First Page

371

Last Page

377

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abn7711