Dual-mode single-crystal photoelastic modulator and possible applications

A new type of acousto-optic device based on a LiTaO(3) crystal is presented. A harmonic voltage with a proper frequency applied to the piezoelectric LiTaO(3) crystal generates mechanical oscillations in the material. Due to photoelasticity, an artificial modulated birefringence is induced by this oscillation. By using a properly adjusted polarizer and analyzer, the transmission of trough-going polarized light can be modulated. By simultaneous excitation of two modes, an advanced optical response can be achieved. For the applications presented here, the first shear eigenmode must have exactly three times the frequency of the first longitudinal eigenmode.