Kerr cell

Definition: Type of shutter used for very short exposures (down to nanosecond) with very rapid reaction. * Based on the Kerr effect: a cell filled with liquid e.g. nitrobenzen is sandwiched between two polarising plates or prisms and wired to receive an electrical field: application of the field rotates plane of polarisation of the cell, which cuts the light transmission through the cell. * Also called electronic shutter.

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