Reducing beam diameter for AOM blanking

[Laserman532]

Hi everybody,

Thanks for all this information so far. Actually my idea is to use a spinning mirror to scan the beam horizontally and an AOM to blank the beam to make 360 degree radial patterns. I am also considering to use the AOM for vertical deflection, which is why I am asking about the external AOM.

There is some limited discussion of AO Q-switches in Siegman's book, but no discussion of AO deflection (though, I suppose the principle is exactly the same). I would like to find a manufacturer who has application notes with usage examples for deflection or a good discussion of the theory. Alternatively, if you know a reference book that covers this area well, I would consider to buy it. I have seen examples of both collimated beams and focussed beams in the AOM crystal, but I don't know much about either case, I am interested to learn.

Best regards,

weartronics

this would have been good information to have in the beginning. I was under the impression you wanted to "blank" the laser not "chop" it. To be clear "blanking" i was assuming for graphics. "chopping" I would guess would be at a slower frequency. Oh well the wonderful information inadequacies of forums. Let me know how the old project works out

[weartronics]

Hi Pat, actually I am hoping to deflect the beam using the AOM (for blanking/chopping/raster/vector/graphics/whatever) even faster than typical galvo blanking, which is why I am considering to use the AOM. Example, 30 revolutions per second * 4000 stripes per revolution * 10 locations per stripe = 1.2MHz. I understand that using the AOM, modulation up to several MHz is easy. At this stage, I am really just interested to learn about how to deflect the beam using the AOM. Once I understand how I can deflect the beam, I can know with more certainty what I can do with it. Actually, I bought a 532nm laser pointer and a focussable, zoomable beam telescope to make a sort of "laserscope simulator" with any beam diameter/divergence combination. Even if can't find any references for deflection methods, at least I can trial things with very low powers.

[mixedgas]

See if you can find "Laser Beam Scanning" edited by Gerald Marshall, in google books. Published by Marcel Dekkar. Dont pay the 175$ for it though. I have a copy. Bought it back when I thought I was rich.

Steve

[weartronics]

Hi Steve, thanks for the tip! I have been reading parts of it on Google Books. He has also contributed to some much newer books. I might buy the one you mentioned from Amazon ($62 with free shipping). Best regards, weartronics

[mixedgas]

Hi Steve, thanks for the tip! I have been reading parts of it on Google Books. He has also contributed to some much newer books. I might buy the one you mentioned from Amazon ($62 with free shipping). Best regards, weartronics

You might want to take a look at "Elements of Modern Optical Design", by O'Shea, b4 you do LBS.

Steve