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Jeffree cell
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<p>The Jeffree cell was an early <a href="/facts/Acousto-optic_modulator/mjsK4cGj">acousto-optic modulator</a>, best known for its use in the <a href="/facts/Scophony/Edn4m2qH">Scophony</a> system of <a href="/facts/Mechanical_television/SpLyIh4T">mechanical television</a>. It was invented by J.H. Jeffree in 1934, and was a major improvement over the <a href="/facts/Kerr_cell/IoJN6wlW">Kerr cell</a> modulators used up to that time by allowing more than 200 times the available modulated light. </p><p>Using <a href="/facts/Ultrasound/31Pa5IH9">ultrasonic sound</a> waves travelling perpendicular to the light, the modulator created areas of varying <a href="/facts/Index_of_refraction/yjkzvgeE">refractive index</a> leading to advancement and retardation of portions of the light wavefront. This led to <a href="/facts/Interference_(wave_propagation)/lI5f78I4">constructive and destructive interference</a> among the light waves, modulating their intensity. </p>