Abstract:
An optical image storage and display device is obtained by using the electrical polarization property of a plate of fine grain polycrystalline electrooptic ferroelectric, such as lead zirconate-lead titanate. Under the influence of an applied electric field, the polarization of a selected portion of the plate of ferroelectric locally is switched through a predetermined angle of less than or equal to 90*, if and when a scanning light beam or an electron beam is incident upon a photoconductive film deposited on the plate. Readout of the resulting permanent polarization is accomplished by means of another scanning light beam traversing the ferroelectric plate, the plate being located between a polarizer and an analyzer. Thereafter, the polarization of the plate can be switched back through an appropriate angle to its initial state (''''erased''''), by means of another applied electric field.