Acousto-optical modulator based on NaBi(MoO4)2 crystal

Abstract

This paper describes the development, manufacturing and testing of acoustooptic (AO) modulator made of bismuth sodium molybdate NaBi(MoO4)2 crystal. Despite the rather long interest in NaBi(MoO4)2 crystals as possible AO material, there is no information about their practical use in acousto-optics. The isotropic orthogonal interaction geometry was used, a longitudinal piezoplate was used as a piezoelectric transducer, the acoustic wave was directed along the crystallographic axis Z. The modulator has shown a high diffraction efficiency (up to 87%) with an RF power of 2.5 W. NaBi(MoO4)2 is characterized by manufacturability during crystal growing and during mechanical processing and optical homogeneity