Increasing the efficiency of an electrooptic modulator with a Kerr cell
Abstract
Theoretical and experimental studies were made of external modulation of a laser beam with a Kerr cell containing nitrobenzene. The use of a high dc bias voltage is recommended so that the working point can be chosen on the second or some subsequent branch of the modulation curve, rather than the first. This improves the linearity of the modulation while decreasing the required modulation voltage. For stability, nitrobenzene of high purity must be used as the electrooptic medium at high bias voltages. It is shown that the slope of the modulation characteristic can be increased by using multiple passage of the laser beam through the Kerr cell. This further decreases the modulation voltage, but can not be used with high modulation frequencies, such as in the microwave region.
- Publication:
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Bulgarian Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974BlJPh...1..189S
- Keywords:
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- Electro-Optics;
- Kerr Cells;
- Laser Outputs;
- Light Modulation;
- Modulators;
- Direct Current;
- Nitrobenzenes;
- Oscillographs;
- Volt-Ampere Characteristics;
- Lasers and Masers