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From: jbn@glacier.STANFORD.EDU (John B. Nagle)
Newsgroups: sci.physics,sci.electronics,sci.misc
Subject: Re: electro-optics
Message-ID: <17300@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: 6 Feb 88 19:55:46 GMT
References: <727@hydra.riacs.edu>
Reply-To: jbn@glacier.UUCP (John B. Nagle)
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 9
Keywords: Kerr (??) Cerr (??) cells


       Kerr cells are used as fast optical switches in pulsed lasers. 
The Kerr cell is placed in the cavity between the mirrors, the lasing medium is
pumped up to the high-energy state, but can't lase because the Kerr cell is 
opaque, and then the Kerr cell is switched on, becomes transparent, and all
the energy stored in the lasing medium comes out in one big burst.

       Try laser manufacturers like SpectraPhysics, or find a copy of Modern
Optics and see who advertises the things.