Thermoplastic Modulator Brassboard.

Abstract

A real-time, two dimensional optical data modulator was constructed at ERIM and delivered to the Air Force Avionics Laboratories/TEL. This report is divided into two parts. The first part describes the design of the modulator and the second part is an instruction manual. The modulator utilizes electron beam writing on a deformable thin thermoplastic film that is reusable. The real-time thermoplastic modulator was designed for experimental flexibility. The recording plastic layer is reusable. Operating parameters were optimized for coherent optical spectrum analysis of the recorded data. Electronic controls allow for a variation in values selected for electron beam sweep speed, raster size, and thermoplastic temperature. The recording faceplate and electron gun are demountable from the recording envelope. The device described in this report is a versatile two-dimensional real-time modulator having the quality required for coherent optical data processing with a large time-bandwidth product and a storage time having a very large range of variation. It is useful in a variety of applications in its present form and further advancements can be made, particularly in the area of size reduction and increased temporal and spatial bandwidth.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA025450

Entities

People

  • C. Leonard
  • G. D. Currie
  • Ivan Cindrich
  • R. Salmer

Organizations

  • Environmental Research Institute of Michigan

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Bandwidth
  • Data Processing
  • Electron Beams
  • Electron Guns
  • Electrons
  • Instruction Manuals
  • Instructions
  • Modulators
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics