摘要 |
Electro-optical apparatus for modulating a randomly polarized light beam is disclosed. The apparatus includes an electro-optical cell and a plurality of optical elements configured to polarize the randomly polarized light beam into two light beam components and to guide the light beam components along two respectively corresponding sets of optical paths, a portion of each set of optical paths passing colinearly through a predetermined axis of the electro-optical cell. Each set of paths are combined to reform an associated portion of the randomly polarized light beam which is exited at a corresponding exit surface of the apparatus, the reformed exited portion, in each case, being a function of the energization of the electro-optical cell. In one application, the electro-optical apparatus is disposed in the optical cavity of a laser system and operative therein as a Q modulator wherein the Q of the laser cavity is dependent on the energization level of the electro-optical cell.
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