Gooch & Housego Electro Optics

A Pockels cell alters the polarisation state of light passing through it when an applied voltage induces birefringence changes in an electro-optic crystal such as KD*P and BBO. When used in conjunction with polarisers, these cells can function as optical switches, or laser Q-switches. Frequently, laser cavities incorporate Q-switches to shorten the output pulse, resulting in a light beam with enhanced peak intensity.

Pockels cells come in two electrical configurations; transverse and longitudinal.

• Transverse cells operate with the electric field perpendicular to the light beam. Because the light does not pass through the electrodes, these cells often employ opaque metal electrodes and the operating voltage is geometry dependent. G&H LiNbO3, BBO and CdTe Pockels cells utilise this design. (Lithium Niobate, LightGate and IRX series cells.)
• Longitudinal cells orient the electric field parallel to the light beam. Some designs use face electrodes of transparent, conductive indium tin oxide (ITO), wire grids, metallic electrodes with a hole in the middle for the beam to pass through, or even conductive plasmas. An alternate approach positions the electrodes on the barrel of the cylindrical crystal, near the polished faces. This removes the electrodes from the beam path and, if properly designed, does not degrade the performance. G&H uses this approach in the product of its KD*P Pockels cells. (QX, CQX, IMPACT, and TX series cells.)

Pockels Cells
Decades of electro-optic device design and crystal growth enable us to offer a comprehensive range of Pockels cells to operate with high performance at maximum efficiency over a wide range of parameters read more

Pockels Cell Drivers
G&H range of Pockels Cell Drivers complements their Pockels Cells, with high-quality components integrated into their designs to maximise lifetime, sfaety and reliability read more

Lithium Niobate Q-Switches
G&H grow and polish their high-quality lithium niobate crystals in-house, and their lithium niobate Q-switches provide a high extinction ratio, high transmission, low switching voltage, and temperature stability over a wide temperature range read more