DIGITAL OPTICAL DEFLECTOR USING (PB,LA)(ZR,TI)O-3 CERAMICS

Optical deflectors are mainly used in the field of optical scanning, M ost optical deflectors utilize the mechanical rotation of mirrors or h olograms, which are suitable for applications such as laser printers. This type of deflector has two advantages; the deflection angle is lar ge and the resolution is high. On the other hand: this type of deflect or does not have high-speed response and is not suitable for random ac cess function. Considering the forthcoming applications of deflectors to optical communication and optical data processing, the electrooptic deflectors should be reconsidered, Especially in considering the rand om access function: digital optical deflectors are more hopeful than a nalog ones. One type of digital optical deflector has already been pro posed, which has a discrete deflection angle due to control of the pla ne of polarization and the birefringence of optical crystals, However, this type of deflector is complex, because it consists of many polari zers and crystals in series. Aiming at a simpler construction, we prop ose a new type of digital optical deflector which consists of an optic al divider and a parallel optical shutter made of (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O-3( PLZT) ceramic: and its deflection properties are investigated theoreti cally and experimentally.