Total internal reflection photoconductive switch
A total internal reflection photoconductive switch and method of activating such a switch, where the switch includes a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of a photoconductive material having a substantially-rectangular prism geometry. The substantially-rectangular prism geometry includes four edge facets, two opposing electrode-connection facets separated by the edge facets, and at least one input facet located at a corner of the substantially-rectangular prism geometry that is positioned between two edge facets and the two electrode-connection facets, for receiving light therethrough into the photoconductive material at angles supporting total internal reflection.
1. A total internal reflection photoconductive switch comprising:
a photoconductive material having a substantially-rectangular prism geometry with four edge facets each normal to an adjacent edge facet, two opposing electrode-connection facets separated by the edge facets, and at least one input facet located at a corner of the substantially-rectangular prism geometry interposed between two edge facets and the two electrode-connection facets for receiving light therethrough into the photoconductive material at angles supporting total internal reflection; and
opposing electrodes connected to the two electrode connection facets for applying voltage across the photoconductive material.
2. The photoconductive switch of claim 1 ,
wherein the input facet is a concave surface.
3. The photoconductive switch of claim 2 , wherein the concave surface has a curved configuration of a type selected from a group consisting of cylindrical and spherical.
4. The photoconductive switch of claim 1 ,
wherein the input facet is a planar surface.
5. The photoconductive switch of claim 4 ,
wherein the planar surface is angled 45 degrees to each of the two edge facets it is interposed between.
6. The photoconductive switch of claim 1 ,
wherein the two opposing electrode-connection facets are separated by a distance defined as height, and the input facet has a width substantially equal to the height.
7. The photoconductive switch of claim 1 ,
wherein the ratio of the input facet surface area to the total surface area of the photoconductive material is greater than 0 and less than 0.5.
8. A method of activating a photoconductive switch to conduct, comprising:
providing a photoconductive switch comprising: a photoconductive material having a substantially-rectangular prism geometry with four edge facets each normal to an adjacent edge facet, two opposing electrode-connection facets separated by the edge facts, and at least one input facet located at a corner of the substantially—rectangular prism geometry interposed between two edge facets and the two electrode-connection facets for receiving light therethrough into the photoconductive material at angles supporting total internal reflection; and opposing electrodes connected to the two electrode connection facets for applying voltage across the photoconductive material; and
directing light into the photoconductive material through the input facet.
9. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the input facet is a concave surface.
10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the concave surface has a curved configuration of a type selected from a group consisting of cylindrical and spherical.
11. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the input facet is a planar surface.
12. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the planar surface is angled 45 degrees to each of the two edge facets it is interposed between.
13. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the two opposing electrode-connection facets are separated by a distance defined as height, and the input facet has a width substantially equal to the height.