Hexamine electro-optic light modulators

Abstract
Although hexamine exhibits a low electro-optic coefficient, large strain-free crystals offer practical devices for both DC and high frequency modulation at reduced operating voltages. A modulator with a light aperture of f/10 has a half-wave voltage of 4.5 kV and shows an extinction ratio of 2000:1. In a multipass mode the voltage can be reduced to less than 100 V but with a consequent loss of angular aperture and light transmission. Precautions taken during modulator construction in order to preserve crystal isotropy included the selection of gold leaf as electrode material and flexible mounts to support the section.

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