Electrooptic and nonlinear optical properties of oxygenoctahedral ferroelectrics (review)

A review is given of ferroelectric, electrooptic, and nonlinear optical properties of oxygen-octahedral ferroelectrics. The relationship between the ferroelectric (permittivity, spontaneous polarization) and nonlinear optical properties is established for a wide range of alkali and alkaline-earth niobate crystals important for practical applications. In some cases, these relationships can be used to evaluate electrooptic and nonlinear optical coefficients from the ferroelectric parameters. These coefficients can then be employed to assess potential usefulness of little studied crystals. Expressions are given for the figure of merit of crystals for use in electrooptics and in electrooptic deflectors.