High-frequency, stripline, multireflection electrooptic beam deflectors

A novel electrooptic (EO) beam deflector has been designed through numerical simulation. This stripline lithium tantalate device has the potential to electrooptically modulate the deflection of an optical pulse at unprecedented frequencies. Velocity matching of the optical pulse to a high-frequency transmission line signal is achieved through reflections of the fast optical pulse. An optimal design criterion is formulated for this device. Deflection capability is estimated to be 8/spl deg/. The device is intended for use in deflection-based optical analog-digital (A/D) conversion.