Abstract
New experimental values of the three independent electrostriction coefficients of the alkaline earth fluorides CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2 are presented. Measurements are performed with improved measuring equipment. With this equipment the electrostrictive expansion of a sample is measured with an interferometer system whereby the influence of spurious displacements of the sample holder is eliminated so that more reliable results are obtained. Relatively low positive values are observed for the electrostriction coefficients gamma 11 and gamma 12 and a much higher positive value for gamma 44. The experimental data are in reasonable agreement with results based on theories of the electrostriction of the alkaline earth fluorides.