Acousto-optic interaction with leaky surface acoustic waves in Y-cut LiTaO3 crystals

The acousto-optic interaction with leaky surface acoustic wave radiation into the bulk of YX-cut LiTaO₃ crystals has been investigated. The light incidence and diffraction angles corresponding to the strongest acousto-optic interaction were calculated and measured as functions of the acoustic wave frequency. The dependencies of the diffracted light intensity on the amplitude of radio-frequency voltage applied to the interdigital transducer (IDT) were studied. Our acousto-optic measurements revealed generation, by the IDTs, of slow shear bulk acoustic waves propagating at different angles depending on their frequency. A secondary acousto-optic interaction from the bulk waves radiated by the receiving IDT has been studied.     

Features of acousto-optic interaction in uniaxial gyrotropic crystals

The features of noncollinear acousto-optic interaction in gyrotropic crystals in the intermediate diffraction regime and the regime of Bragg diffraction were investigated. The dependence of the efficiency of diffraction in gyrotropic paratellurite, tellurium, and quartz crystals on the intensity of the ultrasonic wave, acousto-optic interaction length, and incident-light polarization was investigated. It is shown that the gyrotropy of the crystal is responsible for the appearance of a multiple-peak structure of the Bragg maximum. It has been established that in the case of propagation of incident and diffracted waves in the vicinity of the optical axis of the crystal, the diffraction efficiency is independent of the polarization state of the incident light. The results of theoretical calculations are in agreement with the experimental results obtained for uniaxial crystals. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 105–110, January–February, 2000.     

Wide-aperture acousto-optic interaction in birefringent crystals

Regularities of the wide-aperture mode of light diffraction by acoustic waves in crystals with different values of birefringence are considered. The diffraction has been investigated theoretically and experimentally with the aim of applying it in acousto-optic filters used in processing uncollimated optical beams and images. It is proved that the main filtration parameters depend on the birefringence of crystals used in processing luminous fluxes. By the example of wide-aperture filters based on paratellurite, magnesium fluoride, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals, it is shown that the choice of crystals with high birefringence may increase the maximum attainable angular aperture and throughput of devices. It is also proved that application of crystalline compounds of mercury and tellurium (characterized by high optical anisotropy) in filters increases spectral resolution and improves the quality of filtered images.     

Diffraction of light by ultrasound in paratellurite crystals under Fresnel reflection conditions

We show that layers of acousto-optic gyrotropic paratellurite crystals perturbed by ultrasound can be used as efficient light modulators in transmission and reflection mode. We have established that the relative intensities of the diffracted waves are determined by the ratio of the refractive indices of the bounding media, the intensity of the ultrasound, and the thickness of the modulated layer. We show that for an asymmetric diffraction structure, efficient acousto-optic conversion is possible in reflection mode, and the weak effect of the gyrotropy is due to its suppression by Fresnel reflection at the boundaries of the layer. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 819–823, November–December, 2006.     

Application potential of paratellurite and iodic acid crystals for acousto-optics in the Terahertz range

The possibility of applying paratellurite, iodic acid, and lithium iodate crystals in acousto-optics in the THz range has been investigated. The transparency windows of these crystals and their refractive indices in the THz range have been determined. The acousto-optic figures of merit of these materials are calculated for different acousto-optic interaction geometries.     

Anisotropic light diffraction in a biaxial crystal of alpha-iodic acid

A program for calculating characteristics of acousto-optic interaction in biaxial crystals is developed and used to analyze light diffraction by ultrasound in an iodic acid crystal. Crystal cuts with maximum acousto-optic figures of merits are found. It is shown that in the region of the optical axes the frequency dependences of the Bragg angles under anisotropic diffraction are substantially different from those in uniaxial crystals.     

二维多通道声光相互作用的理论与实验研究

研究二维多通道并行超声波与光波相互作用的机理,导并求解了二维多通道声光相互作用的耦合波方程.分析了二维多通道声光相互作用中各通道的主衍射和二维多通道声光互调制的线性和非线性效应.研制了二维多通道声光器件,测试了器件的各种特性,实验结果与理论分析相符.并且用二维多通道布拉格声光调制器实现了光学矩阵-矢量运算.     

用于侦察告警的Bragg声光接收机

针对测频器件的缺陷,提出了利用声光器件对电磁波进行实时测频的设计方案。根据现代光学理论设计了声光频谱分析系统,研制出软硬件设备。通过试验和仿真,达到了对电磁频谱进行实时检测分析的目的。与其他测频器件相比,所设计的系统体积小、耗能少、稳定性好,传递速度快,且易于计算机控制。采用声光器件制成的Bragg声光接收机能够在复杂的电磁环境中同时快速检测出多束射频电磁波,在电子战中有很高的应用价值。     

Two-dimensional multi-channel acousto-optic diffraction

In this paper, we have investigated the interaction between acoustic waves generated by an incident light beam propagating through two-dimensional transducers. A set of coupled mode equations for two-dimensional multi-channel acousto-optic inter-modulation are derived, and the solutions are obtained. A new type of two-dimensional multi-channel Bragg acousto-optic modulator is designed by analyzing two-dimensional multi-channel acousto-optic inter-modulation based on the coupled mode theory, and its performance has also been experimentally characterized. The experimental results are in accordance with our theoretical analysis.     

Coherent acousto-optic mode coupling in dispersion-compensating fiber by two acoustic gratings with orthogonal vibration directions

The acousto-optic mode coupling from core to LP11(cl) mode of a dispersion-compensating fiber excited by two acoustic waves with orthogonal perturbations is studied by use of a novel composite piezoelectric transducer. Highly polarization-dependent mode-selective spectra are observed that are due to coherent acousto-optic coupling between the core and various constituent cladding modes. Potential applications for implementing an all-fiber wavelength-tunable polarization analyzer are also discussed.     

Acousto-optic study of the unusual cases of reflection of bulk elastic waves in a paratellurite crystal

The propagation and reflection of bulk ultrasonic waves in a paratellurite crystal have been investigated by the acousto-optic method. Simultaneous excitation of two acoustic waves by one piezoelectric transducer has been observed in a cell of complex, specially chosen configuration. Maximally efficient conversion of the energy of a quasi-longitudinal wave into a single reflected quasi-shear wave with a walkoff angle 72° is implemented for the reflection from a free crystal boundary. The wave beam compression by a factor of 7 is observed for this reflection. A reflection (close to backward) of waves with an angle of spatial separation of the incident and reflected beams equal to 8° is also implemented. The acousto-optic figure of merit values of the medium are calculated for arbitrary propagation and polarization directions of the interacting light and ultrasonic waves. Possible applications of the effects studied in acousto-optics and acoustoelectronics are indicated.     

The quantum acousto-optic effect in Bose-Einstein condensate

We investigate the interaction between a single mode light field and an elongated cigar shaped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), subject to a temporal modulation of the trap frequency in the tight confinement direction. Under appropriate conditions, the longitudinal sound like waves (Faraday waves) in the direction of weak confinement acts as a dynamic diffraction grating for the incident light field analogous to the acousto-optic effect in classical optics. The change in the refractive index due to the periodic modulation of the BEC density is responsible for the acousto-optic effect. The dynamics is characterised by Bragg scattering of light from the matter wave Faraday grating and simultaneous Bragg scattering of the condensate atoms from the optical grating formed due to the interference between the incident light and the diffracted light fields. Varying the intensity of the incident laser beam we observe the transition from the acousto-optic effect regime to the atomic Bragg scattering regime, where Rabi oscillations between two momentum levels of the atoms are observed. We show that the acousto-optic effect is reduced as the atomic interaction is increased.     

Diffraction of IR radiation by ultrasound in tellurium single crystals

The optic, acoustic, and acousto-optic properties of tellurium single crystals are considered to analyze the possibilities of applying this material in acousto-optic filters to control mid- and far-IR radiation. The results of measuring the optic and acousto-optic parameters of a tellurium crystal are reported. The isotropic and anisotropic light diffraction by ultrasound in the crystal is investigated. The wide-aperture geometry of interaction in tellurium is implemented and an acousto-optic figure of merit M ₂ of a tellurium crystal exceeding 10 × 10^?15 s³ g^?1 is experimentally obtained.     

Optimal conditions of the acousto-optic interaction in crystals with gyrotropy

The conditions of the acousto-optic interaction in the crystals with gyrotropy are considered. The optimal length of the acousto-optic interaction and the diffraction efficiency in the gyrotropic direction are calculated. The diffraction efficiency is determined by the coupled wave method which allows calculation of the field interaction in the gyrotropic crystal [1]. It is theoretically shown and experimentally confirmed that the diffraction efficiency in the gyrotropic direction is independent of incident light polarization, when the polarization plane rotates by 45° along the interaction length.     

Acousto-optic lens with very fast focus scanning

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an acousto-optic cylindrical lens with a very fast (400-kHz) focal scanning. The lens is realized by use of two adjacent acousto-optic scanners with counterpropagating acoustic waves that have the same frequency modulation but a pi phase difference. This scheme completely suppresses the lateral scan but adds the linear chirp of the two waves and thus functions as a fast focal-scan lens. We also demonstrate the use of this scanning lens in a very fast confocal profilometer.     

Enhanced anisotropy in Paratellurite for inhomogeneous waves and its possible importance in the future development of acousto-optic devices

The anisotropic feature of most crystals, involves a direction dependent wave velocity for each of the possible modes. Paratellurite (Tellurium dioxide) is extraordinary because, for one of the propagation modes, i.e. the quasi shear horizontal (QSH) mode, the anisotropy is exceptional. This results, on the one hand in a very strong directional dependent sound velocity and on the other hand, in a low wave velocity in certain directions, resulting in a high figure of merit for the acousto-optical interaction. In the case of inhomogeneous waves, the slowness surfaces change their shape and magnitude, for all crystals. However, for paratellurite, this effect is again extraordinary. As soon as a relatively small inhomogeneity is considered, the sound velocity for the QSH mode becomes really exceptionally anisotropic, resulting in a slowness surface that is almost spherical, covered by pins. The velocity corresponding to those 'pins', is much lower than in the case of homogeneous plane waves, which is very promising for the future development of acousto-optic cells involving an even higher figure of merit.     

The nonreciprocal effect under low- and high-frequency collinear acousto-optic interactions

The nonreciprocal effect under collinear acousto-optic interaction in the low- and high-frequency regimes is studied theoretically. The magnitudes of nonreciprocity determined from the ultrasonic frequency and from the wavelength of light are shown to be quantitatively identical. An expression that governs the magnitude of the nonreciprocity and that is valid for both low- and high-frequency regimes of the collinear acousto-optic interaction is obtained. The shape and width of the frequency characteristic of the collinear acousto-optic interaction calculated in the low diffraction efficiency approximation are shown to be the same in the low- and high-frequency regimes. The dependence of the frequency bandwidth of the collinear acousto-optic interaction on the ultrasonic-wave attenuation and diffraction efficiency is obtained. The magnitude of the nonreciprocal effect in some of the crystals used in acousto-optics is estimated numerically. The nonreciprocity of the collinear interaction is shown to be substantially stronger in the high-frequency regime relative to the low-frequency regime. Sapphire is proved to be an optimal material for experimental realization of the nonreciprocal effect in the high-frequency regime.     

Acousto-optic modulator of depolarized laser radiation on the paratellurite crystal

An original acousto-optic modulator of depolarized laser radiation is based on a paratellurite crystal in the regime of anisotropic diffraction by a slow acoustic wave. Two acoustic waves with different frequencies are simultaneously excited in a single acousto-optic cell. Two diffraction orders of orthogonal polarizations at the exit from the cell are diffracted in opposite sides relative to the zero order. A polarization prism that is placed immediately behind the cell transforms the diffraction orders into a single output depolarized beam. The total efficiency is 96%.     

Design of the bandpass width, the spectral resolution and the diffraction efficiency of a non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter of TeO2

The spectral dependencies of the bandpass width, the spectral resolution and the diffraction efficiency of a non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter of TeO₂ are designed by the method proposed by Chang. The effect of four parameters (the directions of propagation of the acoustic and optic waves, the length of acousto-optic interaction and the power density of the controlling RF-signal) on the filter spectral characteristics is discussed and illustrated from the point of view of practical application. An example of filter design using these dependencies is presented.     

Acousto-Optic Solitons in Fibers

It is shown that the deceleration of light pulses down to the velocity of a sound value can be realized in a case of unidirectional parametric interaction of two electromagnetic waves with an acoustic one in the regime of forming three wave acousto-optic solitons. This nonlinear acousto-optic interaction can be realized in long distance systems like fibers. As the result of such an interaction, two types of acousto-optic envelope solitons can propagate in fibers. Modulation of the amplitude of the electromagnetic pump wave can control the soliton velocity.