Anisotropic light diffraction in spatially periodical acoustic field

Abstract

We present results of theoretical analysis of anisotropic acousto-optic interaction peculiarities in a spatially periodical acoustic field created by a phased array transducer with antiphase excitation of adjacent sections. Contrary to the homogeneous transducer, the transfer function of the acousto-optic cell with the phased array transducer contains two main maxima situated on the opposite sides in regard to the Bragg angle. The calculations have shown that the diffraction efficiency can reach 100% in spite of noticeable acousto-optic phase mismatch. A number of unusual features of light scattering in the spatially periodical acoustic field is revealed, which can be useful at the development of acousto-optic devices of a new type.