title: Electro-optic modulation in an anisotropic artificial Kerr medium.
abstract: We describe the performance of intensity and phase modulators that use an aqueous suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microparticles. In this medium, the electro-optic effect is caused by the reorientation of anisotropic microparticles in an applied electric field. The intensity modulator was constructed in the Kerr geometry by the use of a sample path length of 20 µm. The response time of the modulator is less than 25 ms, and the depth of modulation was measured to be 28 dB for a switching voltage of 134 V(rms). The switching voltage necessary to achieve a π-phase shift with the phase modulator is less than 30 (Vrms).
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kralik
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Malcuit