Abstract: A modulated light beam, as received from a magnetooptic record medium, carries information in the form of linear polarization rotations having P and S components, herein also referred to as light-phase modulated light. A phase-to-intensity converter optically rotates one of the component linear polarization to be aligned with the linear polarization of the other component. The rotated component and the other component are then combined along a common optical path for interferometrically generating a single intensity-modulated light beam. The intensity-modulated light beam is then detected with an output electrical signal indicative of the information carried by the P and S components. In one form, the phase-to-intensity converter includes generating two intensity-modulated light beams using interferometric techniques, separately detecting the intensity modulator light beams and combining same electrically in a differential amplifier.

Abstract: The holographic diffraction efficiencies of photorefractive or electro-optic crystals, such as bismuth silicon oxide (BSO), increase while experiencing high AC voltages. The diffraction efficiency also increases with frequency of the AC voltages up to a saturation frequency. These enhancements are attributed to the response times of the crystal and the superposition of internal electric fields. The enhanced diffraction efficiency assists in retentively recording information bearing holograms in electro-optic crystalline media.