APPARATUS FOR BEAM-DIVIDING USING ACOUSTO-OPTIC MODULATORS

摘要

An apparatus for temporally dividing pulses from a train of optical pulses into angularly-separated beam paths is disclosed. The apparatus includes no more than one acousto-optic modulator (AOM) for each beam path. The AOMs are configured and arranged to maximize the angular separation of the beam paths and to maximize the energy of each divided pulse. Pulses on the separated beam paths have equal pulse energies and may be gated independently.

主权项

1. Optical apparatus, comprising:
a source of pulsed laser-radiation arranged to deliver a train of laser-radiation pulses; first and second acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) arranged in series to intercept the train of radiation pulses, the first and second AOMs connected to respectively first and second radio-frequency generators (RFGs), each RFG supplying radio-frequency (RF) power to the corresponding AOM, operation of the first and second RFGs regulated by respectively first and second control-signals such that the RF power is at exclusively a high value or a low value, the first and second AOMs diffracting pulses from the train thereof along respectively first and second optical paths when the corresponding RF power is at the high value, the first and second optical paths being at an angle to each other; and wherein the control-signals are regulated such that when RF power is supplied to one of the AOMs at the high value, RF power is supplied to the other AOM at the low value.