Electro-optic modulators (EOMs) are critical components in advanced optical systems, including quantum communications and high-resolution imaging, where precise alignment is essential for optimal performance. However, conventional methods struggle to simultaneously achieve accurate optical axis, transmission axis, and azimuthal alignment of EOM components. This study proposes a high-precision alignment method that synergistically combines Twyman-Green and conoscopic interferometry. The Twyman-Green system first ensures precise optical axis alignment of the electro-optic crystal by minimizing tilt errors. Subsequently, under zero applied voltage, conoscopic interferometry is used to align the transmission axes of the polarizer and analyzer by verifying that the centroids of the interference features orient at 45° and 135°. Finally, under half-wave voltage, azimuthal alignment of the electro-optic crystal is achieved by ensuring the same centroid orientation. Experimental validation using a Z-cut LiNbO3 modulator demonstrates exceptional alignment accuracy, with root mean square errors below 0.2862 mrad for transmission axis alignment and 0.3229 mrad for azimuthal alignment. The proposed method offers a robust solution for high-precision EOM alignment in demanding applications.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.