Variable and rotatable waveplates of PLZT electrooptic ceramic material on planar waveguide circuits

We have applied the (Pb/sub 1-x/La/sub x/)(Zr/sub y/Ti/sub z/)/sub 1-x/4/O
₃
(PLZT) electro-optic ceramic material to produce variable and rotatable waveplates for polarization controls. This plate has a 90 μm×90 μm window between four sides. Each of the four sides is coated with a material that acts as an electrode. The plate is inserted in a trench across an array of parallel optical waveguides. A single PLZT waveplate of this type was capable of continuous and complete conversion. This requires the control of only two parameters, the direction and strength of the applied voltage. The device is fast with a response time of only 1 μs.