Self-modulation of light in piezoelectric crystals

Spectroscopic measurements were used to monitor the optical interference of ordinary (o-ray) waves with extraordinary (e-ray) waves by incidence of plane-polarized light and transmission through piezoelectric crystals (alpha-quartz, LiNbO3, and LiTaO3). This observation confirms that the rotations of the vibration planes of the o- and e-ray waves originate from the dynamic gratings induced by the electric field of the incident light. This is a self-modulation process of the polarized incident light in piezoelectric crystals. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.