LAUSR

Abstract A method based on the Stokes vectors was developed for the measurement of electro-optical (EO) coefficients, and the detailed test principle, experimental apparatus and data processing were described. The practicability of this method was illustrated by the determination of the EO coefficient of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) transparent ceramics, and the measurement results indicated that the standard deviation values of the EO coefficients obtained by the Stokes vector method was almost half of that of the values measured using the Senarmont compensator method. The apparatus used for the Stokes vector method consists of only a few optical elements and was easy to adjust and calibrate, thereby enabling scientific, accurate, and efficient EO coefficient measurements for the development of EO materials and devices.