Optical Choppers and Shutters

Optical choppers are mechanical devices which intercept a light beam on a periodic basis. Boston Electronics provides several rotating disk optical chopping devices from Scitec Instruments Ltd in England. Also available are lock-in amplifiers, often used in conjunction with optical choppers.

Our choppers are differentiated by frequency range, aperture (a function of disk diameter) and whether a complete lab bench instrument or an OEM module.

Until 12-31-07 we also offered resonant fixed frequency "tuning fork" choppers and shutters from Electro Optical Products Corporation (EOPC). After that date please contact EOPC direct for information and sales: info@eopc.com, www.eopc.com , (718)997-8100.

Rotating Choppers
Rotating choppers are appropriate for experimental settings where frequency, aperture size, or mark/space ratios (duty cycle) are variables. The variable frequency rotating disks resemble small fans: a slotted disk mounted on a motor head can be set to a variety of frequencies by adjusting the motor speed. An optoswitch senses disk position and provides a reference output monitoring the chopping frequency. An external control input permits the speed to be matched to an external signal. Numerous accessories are available. Our general purpose lab bench units with 102mm diameter disks cover the frequency range of 5 to 20,000Hz, with options extending this down to 0.01Hz and up to 45,000Hz. Miniature units with 30mm diameter disks cover the frequency range 5 to 8000Hz. OEM versions, designed to be embedded in an apparatus or instrument of customer design, lack mechanical mounts and electrical interconnections but are otherwise complete.

For more technical data on the choppers, view the following manuals.

Tuning Fork Choppers
Until 12-31-07 we also offered resonant fixed frequency "tuning fork" choppers and shutters from Electro Optical Products Corporation (EOPC). After that date please contact EOPC direct for information and sales: info@eopc.com, www.eopc.com , (718)997-8100.

Optical Shutters and Laser Beam Safety Shutters
Until 12-31-07 we also offered resonant fixed frequency "tuning fork" choppers and shutters from Electro Optical Products Corporation (EOPC). After that date please contact EOPC direct for information and sales: info@eopc.com, www.eopc.com , (718)997-8100.

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