Fast-response electrooptic deflectors and their use in the control of time parameters of laser pulses in the range 10–11–10–8 sec

The results are given of investigations of electrooptic KDP, DKDP, and LiNbO₃ deflectors operated in the pulsed regime for periods ranging from few nanoseconds to tens of nanoseconds. A study was made of reflecting deflectors made of KDP and DKDP crystals cooled to a temperature close to the phase transition points as well as of LiNbO₃ deflectors which provided continuous deflection. The angles of deflection of a beam were up to 2° for a scanning rate of up to 2 × 10⁷ rad/sec. The ultimate capabilities of both types of deflector were estimated. A laser was constructed in which output pulse duration could be varied in the range 5 × 10^–11–10^–8 sec subject to an instability not exceeding a few percent. The shape of subnanosecond pulses could be programmed in advance. These deflectors were used to record the shape of laser pulses in which the intensity varied up to four orders of magnitude and the time resolution of such records was ~ 50 psec.