Linear electrooptic effect of the monoclinic polar bismuth triborate, BiB sub(3)O sub(6)

For the monoclinic (point group 2) nonlinear optical crystal BiB sub(3)O sub(6) the linear electrooptic properties (Pockels effect), i.e. the 8 independent coefficients of the linear electrooptic tensor [[Formulaomitted]] (at constant stress sigma ) at the wavelength lambda = 632.8 nm are determined by a method based on Michelson interferometry. The electrooptic tensor is analysed with respect to the longitudinal and transverse effects and a classification of BiB sub(3)O sub(6) as electrooptic material is given. The nonlinear optical crystal BiB sub(3)O sub(6) ("BIBO") is introduced as an attractive linear electrooptic material. All components of the electrooptic tensor are determined and the analysis of the tensor proves that the effective electrooptic coefficients of BiB sub(3)O sub(6) are superior to those of other NLO borate crystals and are comparable in magnitude to those of the electrooptic material KH sub(2)PO sub(4) (KDP).