Optical fibre phase modulator using coaxial PZT films

Experimental and theoretical investigations of optical phase modulation induced by thick piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) film coated coaxially on single mode optical fibres are presented for the first time. PZT film thicknesses up to 120 /spl mu/m have been realised by a sol-gel based process. The measured phase modulation ranges from hundreds of kilohertz to several megahertz.