公开(公告)号：US3864020A

公开(公告)日：1975-02-04

申请号：US42933773

申请日：1973-12-28

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： ARMSTRONG JOHN A ,  GRISCHOWSKY DANIEL R

IPC: G01N24/00 ,  G02F1/01 ,  G02F1/16

CPC classification number: G01N24/006 ,  G02F1/0126

Abstract: A light controlled light modulator is disclosed wherein a low intensity, circularly polarized driving light beam can be used to modulate or switch a linearly polarized main light beam. The main beam can be as much as three orders of magnitude more powerful than the driving beam, yet the response time is measured in picoseconds. The modulator itself comprises a coherent rotator and a polarizer, and modulation is accomplished by rotating the plane of polarization of the main beam under the control of the driving beam. The coherent rotator is a completely passive device and is a light cell containing an alkali metallic vapor such as rubidium or potassium.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种光控光调制器，其中可以使用低强度圆偏振驱动光束来调制或切换线性偏振主光束。 主光束可以比驱动光束多三个数量级，但响应时间以皮秒为单位。 调制器本身包括相干旋转器和偏振器，并且通过在驱动光束的控制下旋转主光束的偏振平面来实现调制。 相干旋转器是完全无源的装置，并且是含有碱金属蒸气如铷或钾的光电池。