Scanning Velocity Measurement of an Acousto-Optic Deflector

Abstract

Beside a demonstrated theoretical formula that describes the variation of diffracted order angle as a function of time, another formula about the scanning velocity of an acousto-optic deflector is successfully demonstrated with experimental results very close to the theoretical formula. This deflector is obtained using laser beam interaction with frequency modulated ultrasonic sinusoidal wave in water. The particular attention that devoted to select the best experimental method of measuring scanning velocity has enabled us to find promising results; the scanning velocity of each diffracted order varies linearly according to modulating signal frequency as well as frequency excursion and sinusoidally as a function of time. Furthermore, the scanning maximum velocity of the pth diffracted order is p times the first diffracted order.