Total Internal Reflection (TIR) Modulator Feasibility Study.

Abstract

An experimental program was carried out to determine whether electro-optic modulation of the phase shifts produced upon internal total reflection constitutes a viable technique for broadband modulation of CO2 laser output. Although the results are not conclusive, strong evidence was obtained that the electro-optic properties of KTN are not enhanced near 10.6 micrometer and that the achievable electrically-induced refractive index variations in this material are not large enough to make the TIR modulation technique practical. The experimental results furthermore imply that the large 10.6 micrometer modulation depths that were previously obtained using KTN were produced by piezo-electric modulation of an air gap between the TIR prism and modulator crystal. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0903809

Entities

People

  • Matthew B. White

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Advanced Materials
  • Air Gaps
  • Carbon Dioxide Lasers
  • Engineered Materials
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Materials
  • Micrometers
  • Modulation
  • Modulators
  • Phase Shift
  • Reflection
  • Refractive Index
  • Total Internal Reflection

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy