A compact double-pass acousto-optic modulator system

Published

June 1, 2005

Author(s)

Elizabeth A. Donley, Thomas P. Heavner, F Levi, M O. Tataw, Steven R. Jefferts

Abstract

A problem that arises when using acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) to scan the laser frequency is the dependence of the beam diffraction angle on the modulation frequency. Alignment problems with AOM-modulated laser beams can be effectively eliminated by using the AOM in the double-pass configuration, in which beam deflections are compensated. On a second pass through the AOM, the beam with its polarization rotated by 90 degrees is deflected back such that it counterpropagates the incident laser beam and it can be separated from the input beam with a polarizing beam splitter. Here we present our design for a compact, stable, double-pass AOM with 75% double-pass diffraction efficiency and a tuning bandwidth of 60 MHz (FWHM) for light transmitted through a single-mode fiber. The overall efficiency of the system defined as the power out of the single-mode fiber divided by the power in to the apparatus is 60%.

Citation

Review of Scientific Instruments

Volume

76

Issue

063112

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

acousto-optic modulation, laser cooling

Citation

Donley, E. , Heavner, T. , Levi, F. , Tataw, M. and Jefferts, S. (2005), A compact double-pass acousto-optic modulator system, Review of Scientific Instruments, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50095 (Accessed October 10, 2025)