Accession Number:

ADD002982

Title:

Controllable Ultrafast Light Shutter.

Descriptive Note:

Patent,

Corporate Author:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON D C

Personal Author(s):

• Iliff,Robert L.

Report Date:

1976-07-20

Pagination or Media Count:

4.0

Abstract:

The light shutter uses in part a conventional laser triggered spark gap but adds a tail biter to terminate the pulse, thus closing the shutter. There are two Pockels cells and two polarizers. When either switch is in the off condition the entire switch is off. In the initial static condition the first Pockels cell PC polarizer combination causes the switch to be in the off condition while the second PC polarizer is on due to the fact that the polarizers are crossed. One of the features of the invention includes the use of a spark gap to ground the high voltage electrode of a Pockels cell. Another feature is the use of a second Pockels cell polarizer combination to terminate the light passing through the light switch tail biter. Still another feature permits the selection of light pulse duration in the picosecond region.

Descriptors:

• *Patents
• *Lasers
• *Pockels cells
• *Shutters(Optics)
• Spark gaps
• Pulsed lasers
• Interrupters

Subject Categories:

• Lasers and Masers
• Optics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE