Experimental investigation of optical beam deflection based on PLZT electro-optic ceramic

Based on the optical characteristics of PLZT (Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate) electro-optic ceramic, two kinds of electro-optical deflectors, triangular electrode structure and optical phased array technology, are studied in detail by using transverse electro-optic effect. Theoretically, the electro-optic deflection characteristics and mechanisms of the deflectors are analyzed; experimentally, the optical characteristics of ceramic wafer, such as the phase modulation, the hysteresis and the electro-induced loss characteristics, are measured; a systematic experiment is designed to verify the theoretical results. The effect of temperature on the performance of deflector is also investigated. Comparing with both structure's deflectors, the optical phased array technology has a higher angle scanning resolution, however, it has a relative small deflection angle. OCIS codes: (230.2090) Electro-optical devices; (160.2100) Electro-optical materials; (060.5060) Phase modulation.