Electrooptics: Phenomena, Materials and Applications

A broad overview of inorganic materials, including ceramics and novel single crystals, such as KTP and BBO, is presented. Some key materials such as LinBO3 are discussed in detail. Liquid crystals and ferroelectric liquid crystals are also described at some length, and attention is paid to recent developments in the field of molecular materials (including polymers and LB films). A whole chapter is devoted to the promising field of semiconductor nanostructures, with interesting electrooptic effects associated to quantum confinement. Waveguide and integrated optics devices, presenting specific theoretical and practical features, sconstitute another chapter. Photorefractive processes and materials are, finally, discussed as a relevant outcome of the synergy between electooptics and photoconductivity.

Applications of all these phenomena to a variety of devices, from deflectors to spacial light modulators, are described. Extensice tables make the book useful as a reference handbook. A large up-dated references facilitates the access of the reader to the current literature. Carefully selected or designed illustrations aid understanding of the text.