Ordinary light induced polarization zones in Tutton salt crystal

Abstract

Ordinary light wave passing through a low symmetry crystal along an off optic -axis direction gets split into ordinary and extra-ordinary waves. If the beam size is large, the two polarized waves could overlap covering a large volume within the medium. It is realized that overlapping ordinary and extra-ordinary waves, result in creation of alternate polarization regions with different fluctuating crystalline fields inside a low - symmetry hydrated crystal. If suitable ions are doped in an experimental crystal, their optical absorption spectra could reflect the effect of alternate polarization fields and creation of ordinary light induced periodic polarization (OLIPP) effect inside a low symmetry hydrated crystal.