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.