A highly sensitive technique for measurements of the Kerr electrooptic coefficient in glasses and glass ceramics

A technique for measuring the Kerr electrooptic coefficient in glassy optical materials and the corresponding laboratory setup are described. The technique proposed, which is based on the application of an alternating voltage of a sound frequency to the samples under characterization, ensures the compensation of the initial birefringence of the samples and shows a high sensitivity (B-min = 10(-17) m/V-2 and Deltan(min)=0.8x10(-8)) at moderate requirements for the optical quality of the samples. The comparative measurement method, the unaltered opto-mechanical part of the setup, and the minimum number of the measured parameters make it possible to eliminate a number of sources of errors and to offer the prospect for developing an automated setup.