ACTIVE INTERFERENCE REDUCTION IN POCKELS CELLS
This disclosure describes a system and method for providing an additional piezoelectric component that generates acoustic compensation of an electro-optic modulator (EOM) for use in the Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) spectrum.
1 . A system comprising:
a non-linear electro-optic crystal;
a plurality of electrodes; and
a piezoelectric component operably coupled to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to generate a counteracting acoustic wave to reduce interference related to the non-linear electro-optic crystal.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric component comprises a same material as the non-linear electro-optic crystal.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises two piezoelectric components that are located on opposite sides of the non-linear electro-optic crystal.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the counteracting acoustic wave is configured to be adaptively tuned according to a desired damping.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric component is aligned according to a crystallographic orientation of the non-linear electro-optic crystal.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are thermally isolated to prevent material degradation.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein tuning of the counteracting acoustic wave is automated via feedback from a stress sensor.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a delay circuit configured for timing the counteracting acoustic wave.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric component is a multi-phase composite configured for damping.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are layered to improve waveform distribution.
11 . A method, comprising:
positioning a piezoelectric component adjacent to an electro-optic crystal; and
modulating the piezoelectric component with a waveform.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the piezoelectric component comprises a same material as the electro-optic crystal.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the system comprises two piezoelectric components that are located on opposite sides of the electro-optic crystal.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the waveform is a counteracting acoustic wave, and
the method comprises adaptively tuning the counteracting acoustic wave according to a desired damping.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein method comprises aligning the piezoelectric component according to a crystallographic orientation of the electro-optic crystal.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the piezoelectric component is operably coupled to a plurality of electrodes, and the plurality of electrodes are thermally isolated to prevent material degradation.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the waveform is a counteracting acoustic wave, and
the method comprises adaptively tuning the counteracting acoustic wave according to feedback from a stress sensor.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises timing the waveform via a delay circuit.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the piezoelectric component is a multi-phase composite configured for damping.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the piezoelectric component is operably coupled to a plurality of electrodes, and
the plurality of electrodes are layered to improve a distribution of the waveform.