Abstract: A light modulator comprises a crystal of the m3m class such as potassium tantalum niobate in which electrically-induced birefringence is obtained by setting up a field within the crystal in a direction which is not parallel to any of the crystallographic axes. With this orientation of the field (preferably at 45.degree. to the axes) the crystal becomes birefringent for light travelling parallel to the field direction. The birefringence is proportional to the square of the field. The modulator may, for example, be constructed as an amplitude modulator in which case it will be situated between a crossed polarizer and analyzer.