An Interferometric Optical Modulator

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Abstract
A modulator for collimated monochromatic light is described. The arrangement of components is similar to that of a Twyman-Green interferometer. The two mirrors, however, are replaced by piezoelectric disks with a reflective coating. Thus the optical path length of each leg of the interferometer can be adjusted electrically to achieve modulation. Theoretical analysis is presented concerning bandwidth, required voltage, and power dissipation. It is shown that modulation bandwidths up to 20 Mc/sec are possible with nearly 100% depth of modulation, that the required driving voltages are less than 100-V rms, and that power dissipation in the modulator is a fraction of a watt. Experimental results are presented.

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