Abstract: Electric signals are recorded on a recording medium having a light sensitivity extending to wavelengths shorter than 475 nm, with an array of electrically switched lanthanum modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) light gates located between a light polarizer and a complementary light analyzer. The light gates are illuminated through the polarizer with light whose wavelength essentially is longer than 475 nm. Such light is selectively gated through electrically switched light gates through the analyzer and to the recording medium having a light sensitivity extending to wavelengths shorter than 475 nm. Information recordings may be made in this manner over extended periods of time without the typical performance degradation through photoinduced birefringence observed with conventionalPLZT electrooptic shutters.

Abstract: Light is selectively gated with an array of electrically switchable illuminated light gates in an electrooptically active solid-state material displaying field-induced and photoinduced birefringence between a light polarizer and a complementary light analyzer. The illuminated light gates are selectively switched through field-induced birefringence by selective application of externally provided electric potentials, until photoinduced birefringence occurs in the light gate array. Such photoinduced birefringence is neutralized by illuminating the light gates in circumvention in either the polarizer or the analyzer while maintaining externally provided electric potentials away from the light gates.