Electrooptic effects in ferroelectric ceramics

Ferroelectric ceramics are piezoelectric and optically birefringent. Moreover, their coefficients of piezoelectricity and birefringence are electrically variable. Consequently, these ceramics are applicable to a variety of devices: electrically tuned oscillators and transformers; miniaturized high-Q, high-frequency filters; FM discriminators; optical memories; electrically Controlled light shutters and valves; and electrically activated multicolor displays. This article deals with some possibilities for devices that exploit the electrically controllable optical effects. A later article will consider piezoelectric applications.