Optical deflector and method for determining control condition of optical deflector
An optical deflector has a dielectric of a paraelectric phase and deflects light transmitted through the dielectric by applying a voltage in a direction perpendicular to a transmission direction of the dielectric, the optical deflector including, in order, a first temperature control element, a first conductor on which a first sensor is disposed, the dielectric, a second conductor on which a second sensor is disposed, and a second temperature control element, wherein a voltage is applied between the first conductor and the second conductor, the dielectric is irradiated with excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in an application direction of the voltage, and a temperature of the first conductor and a temperature of the second conductor are set to predetermined temperatures.
1. An optical deflector comprising:
a first temperature control element;
a first conductor component on the first temperature control element, the first conductor component having a first set predetermined temperature;
a first sensor on the first conductor component;
a dielectric element in a paraelectric phase on the first conductor component and configured to:
deflect light transmitting in a first direction therethrough; and
be irradiated with an excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
a second conductor component on the dielectric element, the second conductor component having a second set predetermined temperature, wherein the first conductor component and the second conductor component are configured to apply a voltage to the dielectric element in the second direction, and wherein the light transmitting through the dielectric element is deflected according to the application of the voltage;
a second sensor on the second conductor component; and
a second temperature control element on the second conductor component.
2. The optical deflector according to claim 1 , further comprising an insulator on a side of the dielectric element.
3. The optical deflector according to claim 2 , wherein:
the insulator has a hole in a direction perpendicular to the second direction; and
a length of the hole in the second direction is equal to or longer than a length of the dielectric element in the second direction and shorter than a length of the insulator in the second direction.
4. The optical deflector according to claim 2 , wherein the dielectric element and the insulator are in physical contact with each other.
5. The optical deflector according to claim 2 , wherein the insulator is transparent with respect to the excitation light.
6. The optical deflector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive power supply configured to apply the voltage between the first conductor component and the second conductor component;
an excitation light source configured to emit the excitation light; and
a temperature control circuit connected to the first sensor, the second sensor, the first temperature control element, and the second temperature control element.
7. The optical deflector according to claim 6 , further comprising a homogenizer between the excitation light source and the dielectric element.
8. A method for determining a control condition of an optical deflector, wherein the optical deflector comprises a first temperature control element, a first conductor component on the first temperature control element and on which a first sensor is disposed, a dielectric element in a paraelectric phase on the first conductor component and configured to deflect light transmitting therethrough in a first direction, a second conductor component on the dielectric element and on which a second sensor is disposed, and a second temperature control element on the second conductor component, the method comprising:
irradiating the dielectric element with an excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
setting a temperature of the first conductor component and a temperature of the second conductor component to predetermined temperatures;
applying a voltage between the first conductor component and the second conductor component;
measuring a beam diameter of emitted light of the optical deflector; and
resetting the temperature of the first conductor component and the temperature of the second conductor component such that a variation of the beam diameter due to instantaneous voltage dependency becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
9. A method of providing an optical deflector, the method comprising:
providing a first temperature control element;
providing a first conductor component on the first temperature control element, the first conductor component having a first set predetermined temperature;
providing a first sensor on the first conductor component;
providing a dielectric element in a paraelectric phase on the first conductor component, wherein the dielectric element deflects light transmitting in a first direction therethrough and is irradiated with an excitation light having a substantially uniform intensity in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
providing a second conductor component on the dielectric element, the second conductor component having a second set predetermined temperature, wherein the first conductor component and the second conductor component apply a voltage to the dielectric element in the second direction, and wherein the light transmitting through the dielectric element is deflected according to the application of the voltage;
providing a second sensor on the second conductor component; and
providing a second temperature control element on the second conductor component.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising providing an insulator on a side of the dielectric element.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the insulator has a hole in a direction perpendicular to the second direction; and
a length of the hole in the second direction is equal to or longer than a length of the dielectric element in the second direction and shorter than a length of the insulator in the second direction.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the dielectric element and the insulator are in physical contact with each other.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the insulator is transparent with respect to the excitation light.
14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
providing a drive power supply between the first conductor component and the second conductor component to apply the voltage;
providing an excitation light source that emits the excitation light; and
connecting a temperature control circuit to the first sensor, the second sensor, the first temperature control element, and the second temperature control element.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising providing a homogenizer between the excitation light source and the dielectric element.