Abstract:
A controllable optical phase retardation device includes a fine grain electrooptic ceramic plate, such as lanthanum doped lead zirconate-lead titanate. The plate is subjected to a constant and uniform strain with a tension axis in the plane of the plate, while a beam of optical radiation traverses the thickness of the plate. By applying voltages to a pair of transparent electrode layers located on opposed major surfaces of the plate, the degree of birefringence is controlled, that is, the relative optical phase retardation of the extraordinary and ordinary rays in the optical beam propagating through the plate is controllably varied by the electric fields perpendicular to the surfaces of the plate. This control over the phase retardation can be converted into optical intensity modulation or optical beam deflection by means of a conventional polarizer together with an optical analyzer or a doubly refracting prism.
Abstract:
A fine grain, ferroelectric ceramic parallel plate, such as lanthanum doped, lead zirconate-lead titanate, is subjected to a constant and uniform stress along a first direction in the plane of the plate. By means of a photoconductive layer and a pair of transparent electrode layers, the ferroelectric plate under stress can be subjected to selective WRITE-IN of a pattern of information using an optical WRITE-IN beam of light, as well as a selective ERASE of such information, all under the control of electric fields only in the normal direction to the plane of the ferroelectric plate produced by D.C. voltages applied to the electrode layers.