Editing Electro-optics

{{Short description|Branch of material physics involving photoelectronic devices}}
{{Distinguish|optoelectronics}}
{{For|weapon guidance|contrast seeker}}
{{No footnotes|date=December 2019}}

'''Electro–optics''' is a branch of [[electrical engineering]], [[electronic engineering]], [[materials science]], and [[material physics]] involving components, [[electronic device]]s such as [[laser]]s, [[laser diode]]s, [[Light-emitting diode|LEDs]], [[waveguide]]s, etc. which operate by the propagation and interaction of light with various tailored materials. It is closely related to [[photonics]], the branch of [[optics]] that involves the application of the generation of [[photon]]s. It is not only concerned with the "[[electro–optic effect]]", since it deals with the interaction between the [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic]] ([[wikt:optical#English|optical]]) and the [[wikt:electrical#English|electrical]] ([[wikt:electronic#English|electronic]]) states of materials.

== Electro-optical devices ==
The [[electro-optic effect]] is a change in the optical properties of an optically active material in response to changes in an electric field. This interaction usually results in a change in the [[birefringence]], and not simply the refractive index of the medium. In a [[Kerr cell]], the change in birefringence is proportional to the square of the electric field, and the material is usually a liquid.  In a [[Pockels cell]], the  change in birefringence varies linearly with the electric field, and the material is usually a crystal. Non-crystalline, solid electro-optical materials have generated interest because of their low cost of production. These organic, polymer-based materials are also known as organic EO material, plastic EO material, or polymer EO material. They consist of nonlinear optical [[chromophores]] in a polymer lattice. The nonlinear optical chromophores can produce [[Pockels effect]].

==See also==
*[[Photoferroelectric imaging]]

==References==
*{{FS1037C MS188}}
*{{DODDIC}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Friedman
  | first = Edward
  | title = Photonics Rules of Thumb: Optics, Electro-optics, Fiber Optics, and Lasers
  | publisher = McGraw-Hill Professional
  | year = 2004
  | isbn = 0-07-138519-3 }}

==External links==
* [http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/category/supplier-directory/cameras-imaging-systems/electro-optical-systems/#intro Introduction to Electro-Optical Systems in Unmanned Vehicle Applications - Unmanned Systems Technology]

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[[Category:Atomic, molecular, and optical physics]]
[[Category:Optoelectronics]]
[[Category:Nonlinear optics]]