Investigation of KTiOPO4 as an electro-optic amplitude modulator

Abstract

We report on an experimental study of a hydrothermally grown KTiOPO4 (KTP) Pockels cell, utilizing the effective electro-optic coefficient, rc1=28 pm/V. Compensation of the static birefringence of KTP, when it is used as amplitude modulator, has been achieved by temperature tuning. Our study revealed that a KTP Pockels cell does not suffer from piezoelectric-induced parasitics (acoustic ringing). Stable high-repetition rate pulse slicing has been obtained at 30 kHz. Intracavity use of a KTP Pockels cell also has been successfully demonstrated in a Q-switched Nd:YLF laser system.