Abstract
A new electro-optical shutter system is described which functions by virtue of uniform photoelastic birefringence induced mechanically by piezoelectric means into a glass plate supported between suitably oriented linear polarizers. The basic principles of operation of this stressed-plate shutter are explained in terms of its use as a moderate-speed capping shutter. The suitability of various materials for each of the major mechanical and optical components of the shutter is considered. Design parameters and performance characteristics are given for a working model shutter constructed to demonstrate the system concept. It is shown that, in its present state of development, this type of shutter is capable of closing a 5-cm aperture to an optical density of 3 within 250 μsec of receipt of a triggering electronic signal.
© 1963 Optical Society of America
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