Abstract

Broadband light intensity modulators are useful in a number of applications. It has been reported that by making a multilayer stack having a random thickness/index distribution an excellent broadband reflector is obtained.¹ If dynamic materials, i.e, electro-optic, nonlinear-optic materials are used to construct the device, a broadband light modulator is obtained. The light modulation is achieved by varying the applied external field if electro-optic materials are used. If nonlinear-optic material is used the device is self-modulating. The configuration chosen for analysis consists of alternating layers of two different electro-optic materials and two transparent surface electrode layers. The thickness distribution is completely random. In the transmission state the indices of the two materials are equal. When an external field is applied a difference in refractive index between adjacent layers is created through the electro-optic effect. This results in a reflection of incident light over a broadband of wavelengths. The characteristics of the rejection band depend on the random distribution profile and the maximum index difference achievable. Results based on computer simulations are presented.

© 1990 Optical Society of America