Kerr electro-optic field mapping measurements in liquid nitrogen

Abstract

Kerr electrooptic field mapping measurements were made in liquid nitrogen at 70 psi and -177 degrees C. A sensitive measurement technique was used whereby a small-signal AC voltage was superimposed on a DC level. The nonlinear optical effect then gave an optical signal with a DC level and AC harmonic at the same frequency as the AC voltage. The amplitude of the AC optical signal was proportional to the local electric field and was measured with a lock-in amplifier. For 6330-nm-wavelength light the Kerr constant was measured to be B approximately=10/sup -16/ m/V/sup 2/. Steady-state electric fields between parallel stainless steel electrodes of gap 7 mm and area 31.6 cm/sup 2/ were shown to be essentially uniform for field strengths up to 90 kV/cm with no significant space charge distortion. The DC voltage-current characteristic was also measured and found to be nonohmic, reaching constant current of approximately=13 nA over the voltage range of approximately=30-60 kV.<>