[time-nuts] optically excite a quartz crystal?

[cdelect at juno.com]

After reading about how the BVA oscillators avoid the problems of "on
crystal" electrodes I was wondering if anyone has tried to optically
excite a quartz crystal in an oscillator?

(Use a modulated laser to drive the bare crystal, and a photodetector
setup to detect and provide feedback?) 

Seems like it might work. Any comments?

Corby