Definition of Pockels cell

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Photonics Dictionary

Pockels cell

A Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by applying an electric field. It is named after the physicist Friedrich Carl Alwin Pockels, who discovered the electro-optic effect in certain crystals in the late 19th century.

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The basic principle of operation of a Pockels cell relies on the electro-optic effect, which describes the change in the refractive index of a material when subjected to an electric field. In a Pockels cell, this effect is utilized to alter the polarization state of light passing through it.

A typical Pockels cell consists of a crystal, often made of materials like potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) or lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), placed between two electrodes. When an electric field is applied across the crystal by applying a voltage to the electrodes, the refractive index of the crystal changes proportionally to the strength of the electric field. This change in refractive index affects the polarization of light passing through the crystal.

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