Abstract

Reflection interference modulators consisting of a highly reflective metal mirror, an electro-optic layer, and a partially reflecting, lossy mirror are analyzed. Analysis of the reflection characteristics of the devices as a function of the angle of incidence predicts that reflectance changes from R = 0.8 to R 0.01 can be achieved in less than a 4° angle of incidence interval for both perpendicular and parallel input polarizations. This resonance can be used to implement a reflection-mode electro-optic modulator. The feasibility of such devices is experimentally demonstrated by using a guest-host poled-polymer system consisting of poly(methylmethacrylate) films doped with an azo dye, 4-[N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)]amino-4′-nitroazobenzene. The devices are characterized by measuring the reflectance and the electrically induced change in reflectance as a function of the angle of incidence and input polarization.

© 1990 Optical Society of America