Acousto-Optic Deflectors

Wavelength 266-1100 nm; Type IR, Visible, UV, Mid-IR; Scan Angle 4,9-60 mrad; Active Aperture 1.0-60 mm; Operating Frequency 9.4 µm-432 MHz; Optical Material Germanium, Sapphire, Fused Silica, Crystalline Quartz, Tellurium Dioxide

G&H acousto-optic deflectors (AODF) provide precise spatial control of an optical beam, whether performing 1D or 2D scanning or executing beam deflection through a fixed angle. The acousto-optic deflectors offer highly uniform diffraction efficiency across the full scan angle, with consistent power throughput for scanning applications like material processing and digital imaging. Gooch & Housego offers a wide range of standard deflectors and RF drivers for wavelengths from 266-1500 nm.

Key Features:

• Visible and NIR wavelength products based on tellurium dioxide crystals, grown in-house
• UV wavelength products based on fused silica and crystal quartz
• Broad bandwidth products based on a longitudinal mode approach using a phased array of piezoelectric elements
• High efficiency products based on slow shear deflection using parallel tangents off-axis interactions

Selecting the right RF driver is important to achieve the desired scanning speed and accuracy. Deflectors used in scanning or writing applications require a variable frequency source which is both stable and highly linear. 2D UV beam scanning may be achieved by cascading two UV deflectors in series. Gooch & Housego’s flexible functionality AODF Dual Driver with phase synchronized outputs offers the optimum in RF driver control for 2D scanning.

Applications: Digital Imaging; Heterodyne Interferometry; Laser Cooling; Laser Marking; Laser Tweezers; Material Processing; Micromachining; Microscopy; On-Line Process Control; Optical Inspection; Photolithography; Printing