Switches and Modulators Employing Frustrated Total Internal Reflection

Many aspects of the submillimeter region have led both microwave and infrared specialists to approach this regime from their respective fields. In overcoming the new technical difficulties, the standard existing techniques have been pushed from both ends to nearly their limit in order to accommodate this new domain. We would like to suggest the inclusion of one technique which has been used in both microwaves and infrared laser applications which has apparently been overlooked. The suggestion is to utilize FTIR type devices in order to achieve electro-optic effects without requiring electro-optic materials.