Nonlinear optical element having electrodes on two side surfaces of nonlinear medium through insulating layers

摘要

A nonlinear optical element comprises a nonlinear medium having photoconductivity and an electrooptical effect, a pair of electrodes, arranged on two side surfaces of said nonlinear medium, for applying an electric field to the medium, for serving as reflection mirrors forming an optical resonator, and a pair of insulating layers formed between the nonlinear medium and the electrodes. A predetermined DC voltage is supplied to the electrodes, and the nonlinear medium is irradiated with a light having a variable intensity. Thus, the reflectance and transmittance of the optical element is non-linearly varied in accordance with the intensity of the incident light. Also disclosed is a method for activating such a nonlinear optical element.