Application of Ultrasonic Light Modulation to Signal

I 1 U U
Recording, Display, Analysis and Communication*
A . H. ROSESTHALt
S
R E X ~ K S BACKGI~OLXD ASD HISTORY
ONE years ago it was recognized that the weakest
link in recording or display devices for radar and
similar information was the cathode ray tube used
to display or record the information. This is because the
dynamic range and resolution of cathode ray tubes are
limited by optical and elect,ron-opt,ical halation of the
cathode-ray spot determining the resolut.ion element.
Further, the available light flux is limited by the energy
contained in the focused electron beam.
Since radar display and recording is closely related to
tclcvision, it was logical to look for solutions which had
been developed in connection with television problems.
UltraPonic light modulation, discovered in by
Debye and Sears and by Lucas and Riquard, had been
applied with considerable success in the development of
large-screen television project.ors for cinemas in England
hefore the war,* although the main problem there had
I)ecn light rather than resolution. Experience with this
work led to deve1opment.s of radar recording and display
devices based on ultrasonic light modulation, since it
appeared that thereby the above-mentioned limitat,ions
inherent in cathode ray tubes could be overcome. Various
radar recording and display devices were developed which
fully justified these espectations.
lven the early recordings obtained with the dtrasonic
light modulators gave far superior results with radar sets
~vhosc performance had been limited by the cathode my
t u t m which prcviollsly had been used their display
mrans. I;ig. 1 shows a t,ypical radar recorder for strip maps.
~ I ~ I SCI PLI : OF OPEIUTIOS OF L-LTRASOXIC
LIGHT ~IODCL. ITORS
The heart, of t,hesc devices is the ultrasonic cell. In a
licluid o r solid medium whirh is travcrscd by the collimated
light from a light source, ultrasonic compressioxd waves
arc cscitcd hy a piezoelectric transducer on which the
signal voltages to be displayed or recorded are impressed
modulat,ions of a carrier frequency. Figs. 2 and show
some typical ultrasonic cells. A cell of the t>ype shown in
Fig. 3 is used in the recorder of liig. 1.
The ultrasonic waves cause periodic changes of the
refractive index of the medium and thus of t,he phase of
the light waves traversing it, resulting in the form. l t 1011
of diffract,ion spectra. By separation of the diffracted
from the undiffracted light. hy suitably shaped diaphragms,
the light output of the modulator can he made to be
proportional to the signal voltage over a wide linrar
range. The nmsimum modulation signal voltages are
below 100 volts, which contrasts favorably with othrr
light modulators (e.g., &rr cells, .ADI crystal valves,
etc., where tens of thousands of volts arc rcqttired).
Fig. shows a basic light modulator system, in which :h
light source, I , illuminates by means of a condensor lcns,
L, , a slit in diaphragm D,. The light issuing from the slit
is collimated by lcns L, and traverses t,he ultrasonic cell
CC. Lenses I,, and L, form an image of t,he slit in D, on
diaphragm D, which stops cither the undiffractcd or t,he
diffracted light. The light portion passing through D2 is
utilized by lens system 0 which forms an image of the
modulation elements in cell UC on the film or display
screen F. lior instanre, a pulse shown at a is imaged a
light spot Fig. 5 shows a typical transfer curve of such
a light modulator system (utilizing about three ordcrs
of the diffracted light passing D, on both sides of a central
stop \vhich clirninates the undiffracted light). The ratio
(per cent) of the diffracted light passing D, to thc total
light falling on D,, called the diffrartion effictienc.y, is
plotted against the signd modulation voltage. (Ioint,s
and B indicate the portion of good linearity.)
Since along the ultrasonic h a m a whole succession of
signal modulation element,s are carried in the ultrasonic
cell depending upon its length, it is able to present a
great many of these elements simultaneously. However,
because this information is carried by the ultrasonic wave
modulations along the cell with sound velocity, it,s image
on the recording film or display screen has to be immobil-
ized. 1;rom the various immobilization methods investi-
gated, one using a rotating mirror polygon has proved
most advantageous for providing a masimum of light and
number of resolntion elements. In addition, the poly-
gon usually provides t,he pulses to trigger the radar,
assuring complete synchronization bctxeen successive
range lines, although it can also be controlled by synchro-
nization signals from the radar (as has been done suc-
cessfully i n the earlier T V applications). Pig. G shows such
a polygon immodilization system, in which polygon P
sweeps the image of cc11 CC over the film or screen F.

Fig. I-Radnr recorder for strip maps.
Fig. %-Various types of ultrasonic light mod~~lation cells.
Fig. 4-B:lsic light modulntor sl-stem.
F
Fig. 6-Polygon immobilization system.
The polygon is usually placed in a collimated light region,
as shown.
The resolution is determined by the carrier frequency
and by the bandwidth response of the cell. For a dynamic
range of the light modulation of the order of several
hundred to one n-hicll can easily be obtained i n the
modulator (as compared to about 15:l in st:undard CR
tubes), the carrier frequency should be about four times
the masimum signal frequency,'so that about four ultra-
sonic waves contribute to one resolut'ion element. The
carrier frequency is limited by attenuation of the ultra-
sonic waves, and the frequency band response of the cell
is limited by the degree of acoustic impedance matching
between the transducer and the diffraction medium. (The
acoustic impedaucc of a medium is the product of its
density and its sound velocity.) Up to now the modu-
lators have been used for signal bandwidths of somelvhat
over i l k , although ultrasonic wave gratings have been
investigated with frequencies in excess of 100 hIc and
signal bandwidths of 20 MC should be quite feasible.

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Rosenthal: .-1pplica!ion of Cltrasoplic Light Jlodulation 3
The design parameters such as polygon size and number
)f mirrors, lens focal lengths and apertures can be easily
ldapted to any parameters of the radar, e. g. , pulse repe-
.itiou frequency, range, resolution, and image size and
Drightness.
: l light modulator inherently offers great flexibility in
jesign by permitt,ing the choice among many available
light sources, from small incandescent lamps to arc lamps
of high brightness. In the strip map recorders for side-
looking radars (Eig. l), for instance, usually a small
incandescent lamp provides adequate exposure of the
film.
In addition to the greater amount of light available for
recording or display as compared to cathode ray tubes,
the main fundamental advantage of the light modulator
systems consists in the far greater number of resolution-or
information elements available for a given range strip.
This number is limited only by the photographic resolu-
tion of the film and optical resolution as determined by
lens performance, and 10,000 or more elements over the
total range strip are quite possible. This would mean, for
esample, that with a radar of a l/lO-psec pulse width,
corresponding to a target resolution of 50 feet, a total
range of over 80 miles could be handled within the range
strip, or with a pulse width of 3/8 of a microsecond corre-
sponding to about 200 feet resolution, a total range of
about 350 miles.
In the light modulator system, the fixed parameter is
the minimum resolution element determined by the band-
width and, as above mentioned, at present somewhat
better than 10 MC, corresponding to a target separation
of about 50 feet. The number of these minimum resolut,ion
elements, i.e., the information contained in one range
strip, corresponding to one sweep by one of the polygon
mirrors, and thus also the total range, is not fundamentally
limited. I n a cathodc ray tube, on the other hand, where
the minimum spot diameter is determined by the above
mentioned halation effects, the fised parameter is the
total nnnber of elements over the tnbc diameter, (usually
representing the rangc strip) which limits the information
content over the range strip and thr~s the maximum range
for a given resolution. The advantage. of the light modu-
lator systcnl thorefore becomes importnnt for estcndcd
ranges where a high resolution is desired. ,is an example
one may consider a radar with a bandwidth of 10 AIc
giving a resol(1tion of approsimatcly 50 fcct. With a
cathodc ray tube capable of representing 5000 resolution
elcmcnts over its usable diameter, cach resolution element
aln-ays represents 1/5000 of the total range; and for a
range in CS CES S o f about 42 miles (5000 50 feet), this
resolvable clement becomes greater than 50 feet; thus
above that rmgc the cathode ray tube is incapable of
matching the resolution of the radar system. The ultra-
sonic light modulator can, with proper design, record
easily two or three times as many elements of resolution,
and thus can match the radar system for two or three
times the above range of 42 miles even with a high
dynamic range of the order of 1OO:I.
The system has heen uscd succcxssfully for the recording
of radar strip and 111 maps and for the visunl display
of fast-sranning rmge-azinllIth data.
COLOR ~I ODULATI OS
The Idtrasonic light modulator acting substantially
like a diffraction grating can easily be adapted to include
color as a further means for target discrimination. (The
principles of this color modulation method \\ere explained
in detail in a previous artirk.) Fig. 7 shows the principle
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Fig. 7-Principle of ultrasonic color modulation.
h
of this color modulation, with the ultrasonic cell UC con-
taining ult,rasonic waves of a given frequency. Unlike
with a standard ruled diffraction grating, the periodicity
of the diffracting elements-the grating constantJJ-
is here not a constant but, being the ultrasonic wave
length, i t is easily variable by changing the carrier frc-
quency exciting the transducer. Thus, by frequcncy-
modulating bhe cell carrier, the diffraction spectra (thrw
of which are indicated by g, for blue, green, red) can
he made to move across fiscd diaphragm apertures (only
one slit S for one diffract,ion ordcr is shown) so that, a
varying color band will pass the system, the peak wave-
length of which is inversely proportional to the currier
frequency. If a suitable A11 FA1 modulator syst,em
(a basic variable reactancc system is shown i n t.he figurej
is used to feed the cell transducer, the inprlt (A) to the
amplitude modulator will C ~ U S C local intcnsity variations
on the (radar) map area and the input at ( F) to thc frc-
qucncy modulator will cause local color variations.Thcsc
color variations may be applied to the discrimination of
a great many parameters, of radar t,argets. Different
frequency bands in multifrequency radar or different
infrared emission or absorption bands in infrared rccon-
naissancc systems c m also be discriminated by color.
This spectral color variation is continuous one, reprcscnt-
ing great number of possible color steps, and lends it,self
J . Opl . Soc. Am. , vol. pp. 751-756; September, 1955.
A. H. Rosenthal, Color control ultrasonic wave gratings,

therefore also to the quantitativc analysis of target
characteristics. In Fig. the relative spectrophotometric
intensities are plotted against the opt.ica1 wavelengths for
the ultrasonic frequencies from 10 to 15 MC, showing how
the color of the t.ransmit,ted light. changes 1vit.h the chang-
ing frequency.
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Fig. S-Spectrophotograms of color modulation.
FREQCESCT XSALYSIS WITH THE ULTRASOSIC
LIGHT MODCLSTOR
R mcthod of simultaneous frequency analysis is based
on the principles of dt.rasonic light and color modulation
as explained above.
If an ultrasonic cell system is illuminated by a source of
white light and givcn vidco modulation frequency is
applied to the crystal, a series of spectra is produced in
the plane of the exit diaphragm D?, from which one or a
multiplicity of slits can select a givcn optical wavelength.
Each frequency of th.1 video modulation contributes
anothcr optical wavelength passing through the slit
system. An unknown frequency mixture impressed on the
crystal wi l l then produce a mixture of optical IvaFdengths
or colors passing through the exit slit system, and this
color mixture can be analyzed by any type of optical
spectroscope. Thus, the unknown frequency mixture in
the video frcquency region ( e . g. , between one and twenty
megacycles) is transposed to the optical region, and the
optical spectrum mill be a true analogue of the video
spectrum to be analyzed, the optical wavelengths being
inversely proportional to the video frequencies, and the
amplitudes being linearly related to each other. Alter-
natively, if a source of monochromatic light instead of
white light (for instance a mercury line) is used, each
video frequency will produce one line (for each order) in
the plane of the exit diaphrngm D,, and the posit.ion of
this line (distance from the optical axis) is proportional
to the frequency so that a calibrated frequency scale can
be placed in this plane. Then any mist,ure of video fre-
quencies impressed on the crystal will produce a line
spectrum on that frequency scale from which the fre-
quencies can be directly read off or photographically
recorded. It should be noted t hat in this frequency- i
analysis method all frequency components are simul-
taneously active at any instant and no successive scanning
across the frequency band is necessary; t,herefore, no
signa1 frequencies of short durat8ion can be missed.
I
CORRELATIOS TECHNIQUES
As mentioned above, the ultrasonic light modulator
carries along the length of the cell a whole succession of
signal modulation e1ement.s. For instance, it takes each
resolution element about 100 Hsec to traverse a cell with
an active length of 6 inches (with wat.er as a medium).
I
For resolution elements of psec, corresponding to
4-MC bandwidth, that cell therefore contains at eacf
instant about 400 such successive elements. If a signal as
function of time is applied to the modulator, the succes.
sive values of this function are represented along the cel
length as a variation in effective light transmission. BJ
optically superimposing this linear variation wit'h anothel
constant or changing linear optical variat,ion--whereby
in t.he former case a fixed mask and in the latt'er case
second cell may be used-light traversing bot,h variation:
represents in its local intensity values the product of thc
variations along the cells. By collecting the light along
the whole cell length in a photoelectric transducer, thc
output thereof then represents the integral of the product:
of the two functions, and is thus proportional to thf
correlation function over a time interval corresponding
to the cell length ( e. g. , 100 psec).
In Fig. 9, such a typical correlation systcm is show
which makes use of t.hc bisic light modulator system ol
Fig. 4. The changing signal represented by a function oj
time f ( t ) is impressed on the ultrasonic cell CC in which
it produces a t time an equivalent linear variation jr
its effective light, transmission t ot ) , where .x is
measured along the ultrasonic wi ve propagation and i s
the sound velocity. This changing signal is optically
correlated with a constant linear variation reprc-
sentcd by a mask dl (shon-n at the bottom of Fig.
corresponding to an equiralcnt funct,ion of time The
total light directed by lcns L, into the photo transducer
T and therefore its signal output S is then proportional
t o C( t ) 1; f(.c vl ). g(. r) dx, where E is the effective cell
length. This signal is proportional to the correlation
function between the functions and
There are many ways to utilize this property of the
ult,rasonic light modulator to act as an optical computer
for auto- or cross-correlation functions, for both passive
and active radar systems and for various communication
problems, resulting in considerably reduced noise and
interference vulnerability.

Rosenthal: :l ppl i cat i on of Ul t rasoni c Light dl odul at i on 5
Fig. 9-Correlation system using ultrasonic light modulation.
INFRARED LINE OF SIGHT COJIMIUNICATIOS SYSTEM
Recently there has been a considerable revival of
interest in short-range line-of-sight. communication systems
both on land and between ships.
Line-of-sight communication systems using a modulated
light beam as the carrier of intelligence, telephony,
are not new, and a number of approaches have been used,
based both on modulated light sources and on light
modulators.
The ultrasonic light modulator, 1vit.h its ability to
provide signal modulations of many megacycles, would
permit the simultaneous modulation of many speech
channels (with a 4-Mc bandwidth, 200 speech channels
each 10 kc wide with very adequate guard bands could
be accommodated). Of course, this video band would also
permit carrier frcquency modulation of several speech
channels over one light beam. (The number of channels
depends upon the frequency excursions to be applied).
The present interest in line-of-sight communica.tion
systems is predominantly in the infrared region. Sinrc the
ultrasonic light modulator uses diffraction of light by
ultrasonic compressional waves, the spectral ranges which
can be modulated are essentially determined only by the
transmission spectrum of the liquid (or solid) media used
in the ultrasonic cell. With the standard liquid cells, a
great number of liquids can be used, their choice depending
mainly upon their ultrasonic velocity and attenuation.
For modulating various bands of infrared with the ultra-
sonic light modulator liquids with adequate spec.t,ral
transmission within the particular band can be chosen
from those which are suitable as far as the just-mentioned
ultrasonic requirements are concerned.
Instead of or in addition t o modulat,ing the carrier fre-
quency of the signals, the optical wavelength (or fre-
quency) of the spectral band used for the signal trans-
mission can be modulated by frequency modulating the
ultrasonic cell carrier as explained above in connection
with color modulation.
Thus, the light modulator can be applied in various
infrared spectral bands for modulation bandwidths of
several mcgacyclcs which can be utilized for multiplex,
carrier frcquency, or spectral bmd modulation optical
communication systems. I n addition to its flexibilit,y as
far as the infrared spectral bands are concerned, con-
siderable light, fluxes can be modulated in inverse pro-
portion t,o the total modulation bandwidth. Any of a
number of suitable light sources can be used, from tungsten
filamellt lamps to high-intensity carbon arcs.