Influence of electro-acoustic effects on the electro-optic response of charged colloids

Low-frequency anomalous electro-optic behavior of colloidal systems (sign r eversal and deviations from Kerr low) is considered in the light of electri cally induced acoustic modes. The latter were recently detected and investi gated in samples of isotropic spherical particles. Their linear dependence on field intensity explains the low-field "permanent dipole" behavior of ch arged colloids. The coupling of anisotropy and density fluctuations results in the complicated frequency curves of the electro-optic responses of anis ometric particles. (C) 1999 Academic Press.