Electro-optical modulator for randomly polarized light

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, electro-optical apparatus is operative electronically to modulate a randomly polarized beam of light projected along an optical axis from a source of coherent light.
More specifically, the electro-optical apparatus comprises an electro-optical cell which operates in an energized state to modulate the polarization of a light beam passing through a predetermined axis thereof, preferably its longitudinal axis; and a plurality of optical elements which are configured for polarizing the randomly polarized light beam, incident thereupon along the optical axis, into first and second light beam components having first and second planes of polarization, respectively.
The first and second components are guided through the electro-optical cell colinearly along the predetermined axis thereof.
The optical element configuration further combines first predetermined amounts of the first and second light beam components which have passed through the electro-optical cell to reform and exit a first predetermined amount of the randomly polarized light beam along a first axis therefrom, and continues second predetermined amounts of the first and second light beam components which have passed through the electro-optical cell to reform and exit a second predetermined amount of the randomly polarized light beam along a second axis therefrom.
In another aspect of the present invention, a laser system has the Q of its optical cavity electronically modulated utilizing the aforementioned electro-optical apparatus which is included as an element therein.
More specifically the laser system comprises a laser rod, positioned longitudinally along an optical axis, for generating a beam of randomly polarized coherent light along the optical; a jumping means for stimulating the laser rod to a predetermined energy level; a total reflection mirror disposed along the optical axis a first predetermined distance from a first end of the laser rod; and the electro-optical apparatus, operative as a Q modulator, disposed along the optical axis a second predetermined distance from a second end of the laser rod