Patent · US Active

Method for an optical modulator using the spin hall effect in metals

US10139655B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

1References

7Claims

0Family size

Assignee

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

Olaf M. J. van't Erve · Falls Church, US
Connie H. Li · Alexandria, US
Berend T. Jonker · Waldorf, US
Aubrey T. Hanbicki · Washington, US
Kathleen M. McCreary · Washington, US

Key dates

Filing date	Apr 27, 2016
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 11, 2036

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02F1/0353
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The spin-Hall effect can be used to modulate the linear polarization of light via the magneto-optical Kerr effect. A material is illuminated while simultaneously passing a modulated electric current through the material, so that reflected light has a new linear polarization that differs from the initial linear polarization to a degree depending on the amplitude of the modulated electric current.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.