Patent ID: 8498502

Claim:
A phase modulator, comprising: a middle layer of material having a first refractive index; a first surrounding layer of material in contact with the middle layer having a second refractive index; a second surrounding layer of material in contact with the middle layer having a third refractive index; a first electrode in electrical contact with the first surrounding layer; and a second electrode in electrical contact with the second surrounding layer; the middle layer, the first surrounding layer, the second surrounding layer, the first electrode, and the second electrode arranged such that a beam of electromagnetic energy injected into the phase modulator is internally reflected at the boundary delineating the middle layer and the first surrounding layer within the portion of the phase modulator substantially within the electric field, wherein: when no voltage is applied across the first electrode and the second electrode, the first refractive index is greater than the second refractive index and the third refractive index; and when a voltage is applied across the first electrode and the second electrode, the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index within a portion of the phase modulator substantially within an electric field induced by such voltage.