An Improved Electro-Optical Modulator for an Electro-Optically Modulated Laser.

Abstract

The present invention provides a jitter stable electro-optical modulator for modulating a high power, repetitively pulsed laser having an optical risetime (10% to 90%) of the order of nanoseconds. The electro-optical modulator includes a birefringent electro-optical device; a hydrogen thyratron operated at a preselected high pressure and having an 'ON' and an 'OFF' state; first means responsive to the 'ON' state of the thyratron for impressing a first preselected voltage across the birefringent electro-optical device; second means responsive to the 'OFF' state of the hydrogen thyratron for impressing a second preselected voltage across the electro-optical modulator at a time coincident with the laser buildup interval; and means for repetitively driving the hydrogen thyratron into the 'ON' and the 'OFF' states repetitively at a preselected repetition rate. The selectively pressurized hydrogen thyratron is placed within a close-fitting vented copper housing and is electrically connected across the electrodes of the birefringent device by an impedance matching network and a coaxial cable. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 06, 1981
Accession Number
ADD008898

Entities

People

  • Bertrand E. Plourde
  • Michael E. Mack

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cables
  • Coaxial Cables
  • Electrodes
  • High Pressure
  • Hydrogen
  • Impedance
  • Intervals
  • Inventions
  • Lasers
  • Modulators
  • Optical Modulators
  • Pulsed Lasers
  • Repetition Rate
  • Thyratrons

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers