Investigation of frequency response of pockels cells based on beta barium borate crystals

Abstract

Piezoelectric ringing effect in beta barium borate (BBO) Pockels cell crystals, which reduces the contrast ratio of cell, has been investigated. The experimental model for the measurement of the piezoelectric ringing impact on the Pockels cell contrast ratio was created. The investigations of Pockels cell contrast ratio dependence on applied high-voltage pulse frequency for BBO crystals of three different dimensions (3×3×25 mm, 4×4×25 mm, 4×4×20 mm) have been performed. The obtained results show that the piezoelectric ringing effect can reduce the contrast ratio of investigated Pockels cells up to 15 times. The piezoelectric ringing effect in beta barium borate Pockels cell crystals is investigated in frequency range 10 kHz to 1 MHz.