Lithium Tantalate Light Modulators

Abstract

Light intensity modulators have been developed using single-domain lithium tantalate as the electro-optic material. A broadband transistor amplifier which can develop 0.2-W output power drives the modulator sample which presents a capacitive load of 5 pF. Approximately 80% modulation is achieved from dc to 220 Mc/sec, when the light is made to traverse the sample twice. The modulation bandwidth is limited by the transistor amplifier. Very little acoustic ringing is observed when the modulator is used as a fast light switch.