KERR EFFECT

OBJECTIVE
1. The phase-shift between the normal and the extra-ordinary light beam is
to

be

recorded

respectively

for

for

different

different

voltages

electric

applied

field

to

the

strengths.

PLZT-element

The

half-wave

voltage U (/2) is to be determined.

2. By plotting the square of the applied voltage versus the phase shift
between

normal

and

extraordinary

beam

it

is

to

be

shown

that

the

relation between the two quantities is approximately linear. From the

slope of the straight line the Kerr constant is to be calculated.

INTRODUCTION
Monochromatic, vertically polarized light impinges on a PLZT element (leadlanthanum-zirconium-titanium compound) which is set in its holder at 45 to
the vertical. An electric field is applied to the PLZT element and causes
it to become birefractive. The phase-shift between the normal and the
extraordinary light beam behind the PLZT element is recorded as a function
of the applied voltage and it is shown that the phase-shift is proportional
to the square of the electric field strength respectively of the voltage
applied. From the constant of the proportionality the Kerr constant is
calculated for the PLZT element.

EXPERIMENTAL
i) Equipment
Kerr cell, PLZT-element
High voltage supply unit, 0-1 kV
Laser, He-Ne 1.0 mW, 220V AC
Polarizing filter, on stem
Optical profile bench, l = 60cm
Base for optical profile-bench, adjustable
Slide mount for optical profile-bench, h = 30 mm
Photoelement for optical base plate

Page 1 of 9

Digital multimeter
Screened cable, BNC, l = 750 mm
Adapter, BNC-socket 4 mm plug pair
Connecting cord, 750 mm, red
Connecting cord, 750 mm, blue

ii) Set-up and procedure

The experiment for the demonstration of the Kerr effect is set up as
shown in Fig. 1.

The PLZT element is connected directly to the HV power supply whose

voltage can be altered between 0 and 1000 Volt with a sufficiently high
precision by using a digital voltmeter branched in parallel to the HV
power supply. Do not exceed 1000 V; this will damage the PLZT element.
The light source is He/Ne laser, the power of which is 1 mW.

Caution:

Never look directly into a non attenuated laser beam

Fig. 1

Experimental set-up for demonstrating the Kerr-effect.

Important: Before performing any measurement of luminous intensity the

He/Ne laser has to be switched on for about 20 minutes to reach its
equilibrium in power emission.

Page 2 of 9

Experimental procedures
1. The experiment is set up and aligned, as in Fig. 1.
2. Turn on the laser for about 20 minutes.
3. Adjust the voltage to zero and wait for one minute
4. Take down the I 0 value. (When both polarizer and analyzer are at 0.)
(It should be about 65 A 75 A; use A range in the digital
multimeter).
5. Turn the analyzer to 90, clockwise.
6. Adjust the voltage to 300 V.
(a)count for 5 sec and record the output voltage from the voltmeter.
(b)reduce the voltage to zero and wait for 1 minute.
7. Increase

the

voltage

in

steps

of

25V,

from

300V

until

1000V,

and

tabulate your measurements as shown on page 7. Repeat step 6a, b for

every change in voltage.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the light from the He/Ne laser which is
vertically polarized on passing through the polarizer, impinges on the PLZT
element which is set in its holder at 45 to the vertical. The incident
linearly polarized wave can be regarded as the superimposition of two in
phase oscillating waves which are polarized, one perpendicularly and the
other parallel, to the PLZT element and to the electric field that is
applied to the PLZT element.

The two light waves pass through the PLZT element at different speeds. The
light wave which oscillates parallel to the electric field of the PLZT
element

is

delayed

relative

to

the

light

wave

which

oscillates

perpendicularly to the applied electric field of the PLZT element. This

produces a phase difference between the two waves and the light which has
passed through the Kerr cell (PLZT element) will be elliptically polarized.
This results in the analyzer, which is located behind the Kerr cell at 90
to the polarizer, no longer being able to extinguish the polarized light.

Page 3 of 9

For a phase difference between the two waves of /2 a linear polarized wave
results from the superimposition of the two waves after they have passed
through the PLZT element.

This linearly polarized wave is turned by 90 with respect to the direction

of incidence, e.g. with respect to the vertical.

The applied voltage is therefore called the half-wave voltage. In this

case the light intensity behind the analyzer which is at an angle of 90 to
the polarizer will show a maximum.

silicon

photodiode

with

amplifier

is

used

as

the

detector

for

the

luminous intensity behind the analyzer.

As long ago as 1875 Kerr discovered that a glass plate to which a strong
electric field was applied became birefractive. It soon became clear that
this effect was not based on deformation caused by the electric field as
the same phenomenon was observed in liquids and even in gases.

The

PLZT

element

used

in

this

experiment

has

the

advantage

that

the

birefraction, represented by the Kerr constant, is more than two orders of

magnitude larger than for nitrobenzene and voltages of a few hundred volts
are sufficient in order to study the electro-optical effects of the ceramic
element. This one is transparent for wavelengths from 0.4 to 5.6 m. Its
chemical compositions here described by the formula Pb 0.9125 La 0.0875
Zr 0.65

Ti

0.3503.

element

behaves

With

like

regard

to

transparent

the

transmission

polycrystal.

For

of

light
=

633

the
nm

PLZT
its

transition ratio is more than 60%. With respect to an applied electric

field, it behaves like a ferromagnetic substance which is submitted to a
magnetic field.

Within the PLZT element there are already prepolarized domains which grow
or which are reorientated by the applied electric field. In this way, the
element becomes optically anisotropic respectively birefractive. Regarding
the above mentioned electro-optical modulation, it should be pointed out
that the element can deal with modulation frequencies of up to 100 kHz.

Page 4 of 9

Fig. 2

Cross-section of PLZT element.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the PLZT element. The active element 1 of

the modulator is a parallelpiped of height = 8 mm, length = 1.5 mm and
width

= 1.4 mm.

The width represents the distance between the electrodes. The electric
field strength is given by the ratio of voltage applied over the distance
between the electrodes. The path of the light beam within the element is
equal to the length of the element. Active element (1) is encapsulated
using silicon hermetics (2) in isolating ring (3) and glued between two
glass plates (4). An optical glue (5) Canadian balsam was used. Wire (6)
are fixed on the electrode faces of the element and connected with BNC
socket on frame (7).

Method of Analysis
The light wave, whose field vector oscillates parallel to the electric
field,

is

called

the

extraordinary

beam

whereas

the

wave

oscillating

perpendicular to the field is known as the normal beam.

If the corresponding refractive indices are designated by n a0 and n 0 and l

is the distance in the PLZT element covered by the light, then there is a
difference in optical paths for the two waves of

l (n a0 n 0

Page 5 of 9

This corresponds to a phase displacement of

= 2

l
(n a0 n 0

(1)

where is the wavelength of the light in vacuum; here = 633 nm.

It can be shown that the phase displacement is proportional to length l and
the square of polarization P. If we anticipate that the polarization is a
linear function of the electric field strength E and the proportionality
factor is designated by 2K, then the following relation is obtained:

2 K l E 2

the

applied

(2)

K is the Kerr constant.

can

be

expressed

by

voltage

and

the

inter-electrode

distance d

U
d

E =

(3)

The luminous intensity I behind the analyzer is obtained for the given
experimental apparatus (polarizer and analyzer crossed and at 45 to the
electric field on the PLZT element) from the relationship (1):

I = I 0 sin 2

(4)

I 0 is the luminous behind the analyzer when the polarizer and the analyzer
are aligned in the same direction and the electric field on the PLZT
element

is

zero.

After

substituting

(2)

in

(4)

and

using

(3),

the

followings is obtained:

Solving the equation for U

U2

I 0 sin 2

K l U 2

(5)

d2

gives :

d2
.arc
K l

sin

I
I0

(6)

Page 6 of 9

By

plotting

against

2 arc

sin

I / I0

an

approximately

straight

line is obtained and the Kerr constant can be derived from its slope,
because the geometrical dimensions l and d for the Kerr cell (PLZT element)
are known.

1. The relative luminous intensity I/I 0 behind the analyzer is measured as

a function of the voltage U applied to the PLZT element.

Tabulate the measured values as follows:

I
U(Volt)

I0

= arc
2

sin

I
I0

300
325
350
375
400
425
:
:
950
975
1000

Plot the graph of I/I 0 vs U (volt). Indicate clearly the phase shift as
well as the voltages for which maxima and minima of luminous intensity
are observed.

Determine the voltage at which the luminous intensity

reaches a maximum for the first time. At this voltage the normal and
extraordinary beam are phase-shifted by 180. It is therefore the halfwave voltage . It is a function of the PLZT element composition and of
the temperature.

2. Plot the graph of U

(10 volts ) vs (degree).

Determine the slope of the graph by linear regression a straight line.

Using equation (6) with l = 1.5 mm, d = 1.4 mm and slope in radian,
determine the value of K, the Kerr constant of this element.

Page 7 of 9

APPENDIX
424

347

265

213

162

126

96

67

46

31

21

I/I0
Phase shift
___
= 2.arc sinI/I0

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2

U(/2)=615[V]

U/Volt

0
100

200

300

400

500

600

700

615[V]

800
753[V]

900

1000

Voltage for maxima and

minima

Relative luminous intensity I/I 0 behind the analyzer as a function of

the voltage U applied to the PLZT element and the phase-shift
between normal and extraordinary beam.

Example:

U
(Volt)
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
950
1000

I 0 = 76 A
2

U
2
(Volt )

I
(A)

I
I0

0.53
0.44
0.798
2.2
8.82
21.67
44.4
67.95
74.49
40.43
16.28
25.65
51.84
47.77
25.92

0.00698
0.00582
0.0105
0.0302
0.1106
0.2852
0.5844
0.8941
0.9802
0.5320
0.2142
0.3376
0.6822
0.6282
0.3411

= arc

sin

4.79
4.375
5.88
10
19.42
32.28
49.86
71.01
81.91
46.83
27.57
35.52
55.68
52.45
35.74

I
I0

(Measured)

(Actual)

9.58
8.75
11.76
20
38.84
64.56
99.72
142.02
163.82
93.66
55.14
71.04
111.36
104.9
71.48

9.58
8.75
11.76
20
38.84
64.56
99.7
142
163
266 (360-)
304 (360-)
431 (360+)
471 (360+)
615 (720-)
688 (720-)

Table: Voltage U across the PLZT-element, light intensity I behind

the analyzer and phase shift /2 between normal and extraordinary
beam.

Page 8 of 9

U /10 Volt

slope = 1.36 x 10 [Volt /degree]

with l =1.5 mm and d=1.4 mm

10

-9

Kerr constant: K=2.7 x 10

[m/Volt ]

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Phase shift /degree

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Square of the voltage applied to the PLZT-element as a function of the phase-shift

between normal and extraordinary beam.

* Plot Square of the voltage against the actual phase shift .

Revised Sep 2009

Revised Sep 2011

Page 9 of 9