Optical: systems and elements – Optical modulator – Light wave temporal modulation
Patent
1996-07-31
1999-09-21
Nelms, David C.
Optical: systems and elements
Optical modulator
Light wave temporal modulation
356350, G02F 109
Patent
active
059561718
ABSTRACT:
An optical intensity modulator which uses a Sagnac interferometer having an electro-optic phase modulator therein. An electric modulation signal is delivered to the modulator, and the latter is selected so that the phase velocity of optical and electrical signals are comparable in it. This causes the optical signal from one interferometer arm to copropagate through the modulator with the electrical signal, increasing interaction time with it, and causes the optical signal from the other arm to counterpropagate with the electric signal, reducing interaction time. In addition to phase modulating the optical signals by the electrical signal, the electro-optic effect in the modulator phase shifts the optical signals with respect to one another, permitting them to form a non-zero interference pattern, whose intensity corresponds to the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the interferometer has a non-reciprocal device to impose a constant phase difference between the counterpropagating optical signals, which permits one to place the system's setpoint to any arbitrary point on the system's transmissivity versus phase response, e.g. large signal and/or linear response.
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Burns William K.
Dennis Michael L.
Duling, III Irl N.
McDonnell Thomas E.
Miles Edward F.
Nelms David C.
Robbins Thomas
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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