NANOSECOND RESPONSE OF BRAGG DEFLECTORS IN PERIODICALLY POLED LINBO3

For the first time, transients are measured for a bulk-optical Bragg-d eflector based on an electrooptically (EO) induced grating in periodic ally poled LiNbO3 (PPLN). Optical pulse risetimes of 1.2 ns are report ed with a first-order diffraction efficiency of 76% for circular Gauss ian beams, The fast risetime is accounted for by a substantially suppr essed elicitation of acoustic thickness modes and careful electrode de sign. For many applications, the device could replace both acoustoopti cal Bragg-deflectors and conventional EO amplitude modulators due to a fivefold reduction in risetime and fourfold reduction in drive power, respectively.