Low-loss LiNbO3Q switches: Compensation of acoustically-induced refractive index variations

The operation of a LiNbO
3
electrooptic
Q
switch for applications in lasers with low gain is theoretically and experimentally investigated. It is shown that acoustic waves generated at the crystal surfaces during switching of the electrode voltage will induce a linear time-dependent phase retardation starting immediately after switching. This phase retardation, which results in time-variable transmission losses, can be compensated for by means of an additional linear ramp voltage. The analysis has been verified experimentally at 0.633 μm.