Comparison of GaAs and CdTe crystals for high-frequency intracavity coupling modulation of CO2lasers

Author

Huang, Cheng-Chung ; Pao, Yoh-Han ; Claspy, P.C. ; Phelps, F.W., Jr.

Author_Institution

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA

Volume

10

Issue

2

fYear

1974

fDate

2/1/1974 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

186

Lastpage

191

Abstract

High-frequency intracavity coupling modulation of the CO2laser has recently attracted considerable interest as an efficient means of achieving wide-bandwidth modulation with low modulator drive power. In the present investigation, intracavity coupling modulation was achieved at 1 GHz. Both GaAs and CdTe crystals were investigated and an optical beat method was used to explore the operational characteristics of such systems without having to go to the expense and trouble of high-speed detectors. The modulation efficiencies at the 1-GHz modulation rate were 0.5 and 1 percent for GaAs and CdTe electrooptic modulators, respectively. Modulator crystal characteristics such as electrical resistivity, radiation absorption, crystal uniformity, etc., which are of critical importance for intracavity modulation, were also measured for both crystals.

Keywords

Absorption; Crystals; Electric resistance; Electric variables measurement; Electrooptic modulators; Gallium arsenide; High speed optical techniques; Optical coupling; Optical modulation; Power lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.1974.1145806

Filename

1145806