Liquid/vapor optical modulator.

摘要

Apparatus and method for modulating light (111) involving the formation of bubbles (119) in a normally opaque fluid (107) contained within a cell (103,105,109) by focusing a beam (115) from a laser (117) in regions of the fluid (107). When such bubbles (119) are formed the modulator (101) becomes substantially transparent in the region of each bubble (119). When the laser beam (115) is turned off or moved away the bubble (119) condenses and the modulator (101) again becomes opaque in the region of the condensed bubble. <IMAGE>