Coupling modulation in photorefractive materials by applying AC electric fields

In general, the application of an electric field to a photorefractive material with optical activity results in a change in the effective electro-optic coefficient, r_eff, which, in turn, alters the coupling between the two beams in a two-wave mixing experiment. When an alternating field is applied, this results in a modulation of both the phase and the coupling of the beams. Equations that have been developed to describe the change in the electro-optic coefficient as function of an applied dc field across an optically active crystal, have been used to demonstrate coupling modulation effects in BSO whilst applying large sinusoidal fields. Methods of overcoming these modulation effects are included.