Acousto-optic deflector

An acousto-optic deflector (AOD) is a device that uses the interaction between sound waves and light waves to deflect or redirect a laser beam. AODs are essentially the same as acousto-optic modulators (AOMs). In both an AOM and an AOD, the amplitude and frequency of different orders are adjusted as light is diffracted.

Operation

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In the operation of an acousto-optic deflector the power driving the acoustic transducer is kept on, at a constant level, while the acoustic frequency is varied to deflect the beam to different angular positions. The acousto-optic deflector makes use of the acoustic frequency dependent diffraction angle, where a change in the angle   as a function of the change in frequency   given as,[1]

 

where   is the optical wavelength and   is the velocity of the acoustic wave.

Impact

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AOM technology has made Bose–Einstein condensation practical, for which the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Eric A. Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle and Carl E. Wieman.[2] Another application of acoustic-optical deflection is optical trapping of small molecules.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Acousto-optic effect: Deflector". Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  2. ^ The Nobel Prize in Physics 2001

Paschotta, Rüdiger. "Acousto-optic Deflectors". Archived from the original on 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-09-08.