Patent · US Expired

Magneto-optic modulator using dielectric mirrors

US4239337A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 1979
Grant dateDec 16, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/09
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A magneto-optic modulator of the bounce-cavity type is disclosed wherein the mirrors that are attached to the garnet crystal to provide the reflections are multilayered dielectric mirrors. By polarizing the input beam such that its E vector is perpendicular to the plane of incidence substantially total reflection is achieved from the mirrors and all of the input beam emerges from the garnet crystal. A metal film deposited on a plane of the crystal that is perpendicular to the mirrors permits the establishment of a magnetic field that is substantially parallel to the reflected beams within the crystal. When the field is established by passing current through the film, much of the light is lost during each of the reflections since substantial amounts of the polarized light having polarizations in the plane of incidence are coupled through the dielectric mirrors. Hence the intensity of the output beam is modulated by the current in the metal film.

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