Update on progress toward a crystal streak camera using new materials

Several new materials have electrooptical coefficients that are high in comparison with that of lithium niobate (31 x 10/sup -12/ m/V). These new materials are Sr/sub chi/Ba/sub 1-chi/Nb/sub 2/O/sub 6/ (SBN:100chi); Sr/sub chi/Ba/sub 1-chi/K/sub 1-y/Na/sub y/Nb/sub 2/O/sub 6/ (BSKNN); and polymeric, ultrathin films. For SBN:60, SBN:75, and BSKNN, electrooptical coefficients of 400 x 10/sup -12/ m/V, 1400 x 10/sup -12/ m/V, and 150 x 10/sup -12/ m/V, respectively, have been reported. In this paper, the authors review the theory of light-steering machines and predict the theoretical performance of these systems using these new electrooptical materials. They include new, innovative methods for increasing the resolution of these systems. In addressing problems in fabricating the crystals, the authors discuss crystal properties that must be controlled if the development of a practical crystal streak camera is to be successful. Finally, they present experimental results from a laboratory-built light deflector using SBN:60