An electric field sensor utilizing a piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2) film in a single-mode fiber interferometer

A polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF
2
) phase shifter is characterized in terms of amplitude response linearity, frequency response uniformity, and ultimate sensitivity to electric field. Phase-drift compensation with this PVF
2
device is demonstrated in a Mach-Zehnder fiber interferometer. The compensator can be operated at the
\pi/2
-phase mode for maximum sensitivity in detection applications, or the π-phase mode for maximum frequency mixing efficiency.