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Can phase modulators be used in interferometric applications?

April 26, 2017applications interferometric modulators phase Used

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Can phase modulators be used in interferometric applications?

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No, the electro-optic crystals that we use in our phase modulators contain refractive index inhomogeneities. This spatially non-uniform refractive index imparts a significant wavefront distortion to any beam that passes through the modulator. When the beams are recombined, the wavefront distortion will cause the on:off contrast ratio to be very low, perhaps 3:1 or 5:1.