Phase-tuned acousto-optic spatial filter.

An acousto-optic (AO) tunable filter with a phase-controlled dual-section piezoelectric transducer is designed and created for laser beam shaping (LBS). Owing to the acoustic beam steering effect, we experimentally observe splitting of the two-dimensional transfer function. As a result, we demonstrate generation of tunable bottle laser beams and dual-ring intensity distributions for the diffracted beam.

Independent multicolored bottle-beam generation using acousto-optic spatial shaping of a femtosecond laser beam.

We report on the development of a tunable spectral and spatial frequency shaping system for ultrashort laser pulses using acousto-optic filters. The system enables the creation of arbitrary axially symmetric multi-wavelength field configurations in the Ti:sapphire laser emission range near 800 nm and controlling them at a multi-kilohertz rate. We experimentally demonstrate independent generation of two-colored annular intensity distributions from a single femtosecond laser beam and a bottle beam having the hollow cylindrical volume with the aspect ratio of 9:1.

Analysis of Acousto-Optic Figure of Merit in KGW and KYW Crystals.

Monoclinic potassium rare-earth crystals are known as efficient materials for solid-state lasers and acousto-optic modulators. A number of specific configurations for acousto-optic devices based on those crystals have recently been proposed, but the acousto-optic effect of those crystals has only been analyzed fragmentarily for some interaction directions. In this work, we numerically searched for the global maxima of an acousto-optic figure of merit for isotropic diffraction in KGd(WO) and KY(WO) crystals.

Quasi-Collinear AOTF Spectral Transmission Under Temperature Gradients Aroused by Ultrasound Power Absotption.

Quasi-collinear geometry is a special configuration of acousto-optic (AO) diffraction that provides an extremely large AO interaction length for achieving extremely high spectral resolution of AO tunable filters (AOTFs). Large AO interaction length also makes it possible to implement multifrequency diffraction in quasi-collinear AOTFs, which has found multiple applications in modern optoelectronics. The most widespread of them being ultrashort laser pulse shaping when the pulse shape and spectral composition is controlled by the spectral composition of the ultrasound pulse aroused in the AO crystal.

Characterization and alignment of acousto-optic devices using digital tailored RF waveforms.

Acousto-optic (AO) devices are used in a variety of light control and processing applications in different environments, including laboratory conditions and the field environment, as well as on air- and space-borne platforms. Accurate alignment and calibration of AO deflectors and tunable filters is crucial for correct operation and to achieve specified performances of those devices. We describe a simple routine to test and align AO devices with a programmable RF waveform generator.

High-efficiency KYW acousto-optic Q-switch for a Ho:YAG laser.

A new, to the best of our knowledge, type of acousto-optic Q-switch was developed using slow shear acoustic mode in potassium yttrium tungstate (KYW) crystal. Two Q-switch configurations were created: one for vertical and one for horizontal light polarization, both providing over 50% diffraction efficiency at a wavelength of 2.1 μm and an RF driving power below 8 W.

Noncritical acousto-optic Bragg phase matching: analysis of orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal systems.

Anisotropic acousto-optic diffraction in crystals is the fundamental phenomenon that is used to design acousto-optic tunable filters. Noncritical and quasicollinear phase-matching geometries of Bragg acousto-optic diffraction are compared for acoustic symmetry planes in four crystal systems (tetragonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, and monoclinic). The results for uniaxial crystals are reviewed and generalized for biaxial crystals.

Ring-shaped optical trap based on an acousto-optic tunable spatial filter.

We report on a novel, to the best of our knowledge, optical scheme of an annular optical trap based on an acousto-optic tunable spatial filter. Design of the optical trap is proposed and validated. Experimental demonstration with polystyrene microspheres includes controllable arrangement of freely floating particles into a circular pattern, aggregation, and disaggregation of the particles.

AOTF-based hyperspectral imaging phase microscopy.

Phase imaging microscopy with incoherent object illumination is convenient and affordable for biomedical research and clinics since it provides easy integration with a variety of bright-field optical microscopes. We report the design of a new hyperspectral imaging system based on a combination of a spatial light modulator (SLM) and an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) for phase imaging microscopy. Contrast of phase-only objects originates from matched spectral and spatial filtering performed by the SLM and the AOTF located in Fourier-conjugate optical planes in the back-end of the optical system.

Optimization of piezotransducer dimensions for quasicollinear paratellurite AOTF.

The method of quasicollinear acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) piezoelectric transducer dimensions optimization is presented. The AOTFs with large interaction length apply the bulk acoustic wave (BAW) reflection from the input optical facet. Optimization is based on spectral approach to simulation of the BAW field in anisotropic media and Raman-Nath equations numerically solved for the inhomogeneous acoustic field.

Optimization of noncollinear AOTF design for laser beam shaping.

Optimization of a wide-angle paratellurite acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is performed for applications in laser beam shaping systems. The AOTF configuration with annular transfer function is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the optimal AOTF design for single-frequency operation as a narrow-band spatial frequency filter is obtained at acoustic propagation angle of 5.

Linear Phase Design of Piezoelectric Transducers for Acousto-Optic Dispersion Delay Lines Using Differential Evolution for Matching Circuit Optimization.

A numerical method for providing linear phase response of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) piezoelectric transducers (PTs) of acousto-optic devices is developed. Our approach is based on the analytic approximation of the phase response of the PT with the matching electrical circuit and optimization with a differential evolution genetic algorithm. Simulations and experiments were performed for two typical BAW excitation schemes: direct and reflective.

Novel protocol of hyperspectral data acquisition by means of an acousto-optical tunable filter with synthesized transmission function.

A new protocol of hyperspectral data acquisition with an acousto-optical tunable filter is proposed and tested experimentally. Correction for the illumination source spectrum and regular spectral sensitivity factors is embedded in the data acquisition routine. The protocol is based on the adaptive electronic setting of the filter transmission passband inversely proportional to the power spectrum of the light source.

Tissue Engineered Neural Constructs Composed of Neural Precursor Cells, Recombinant Spidroin and PRP for Neural Tissue Regeneration.

We have designed a novel two-component matrix (SPRPix) for the encapsulation of directly reprogrammed human neural precursor cells (drNPC). The matrix is comprised of 1) a solid anisotropic complex scaffold prepared by electrospinning a mixture of recombinant analogues of the spider dragline silk proteins - spidroin 1 (rS1/9) and spidroin 2 (rS2/12) - and polycaprolactone (PCL) (rSS-PCL), and 2) a "liquid matrix" based on platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The combination of PRP and spidroin promoted drNPC proliferation with the formation of neural tissue organoids and dramatically activated neurogenesis.

Interference of phase-shifted chirped laser pulses for secure free-space optical communications.

A new method concerning secure free-space communications by means of chirped laser pulse interference is proposed. Physical-layer security of the link is ensured by encoding the data in a relative phase difference between two spatially separated beams. The possible architecture of the dual-node link is discussed based on acousto-optic elements for signal modulation and detection.

Wavelength characterization of an acousto-optic notch filter for unpolarized near-infrared light.

A cascaded system of two acousto-optical cells is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for optical notch rejection filtering in the spectral range from 1400 nm to 1600 nm. Two similar paratellurite acousto-optical devices for unpolarized light are used in a free-space gap of a fiber line. Compensation for birefringence in anisotropic paratellurite devices provides a diffraction regime that is insensitive to polarization of light.

Compact acousto-optic imaging spectro-polarimeter for mineralogical investigations in the near infrared.

Spectral imaging in the near infrared is a promising method for mineralogy analysis, in particular well-suited for airless celestial objects or those with faint atmospheres. Additional information about structure and composition of minerals can be obtained using spectral polarimetry with high spatial resolution. We report design and performance of laboratory prototype for a compact near infrared acousto-optic imaging spectro-polarimeter, which may be implemented for remote or close-up analysis of planetary surfaces.

Hyperspectral imaging acousto-optic system with spatial filtering for optical phase visualization.

We report a method for phase visualization in the images of transparent specimens using analog image processing in incoherent light. The experimental technique is based on adaptive bandpass spatial filtering with an amplitude mask matched with an acousto-optic tunable filter in a telecentric optical system. We demonstrate the processing of microscopic images of unstained and stained histological sections of human thyroid tumor with improved contrast.

Double acousto-optic deflector system for increased scanning range of laser beams.

A new laser scanning system is presented based on two wide-band acousto-optic deflectors. The interaction medium is tellurium dioxide. Anisotropic interactions take place under two different tangential phase matching configurations in such a way that the acousto-optic bandwidths add up.

Acoustic field structure simulation in quasi-collinear acousto-optic cells with ultrasound beam reflection.

Ultrasound wave reflection from one of the crystal faces is the convenient way to arouse the acoustic beam with a desired propagation direction in acousto-optic cells with collinear and quasi-collinear interaction geometries. The reflection process effects on the ultrasound field amplitude and phase structure. The method to simulate the reflected finite ultrasound beam structure in the case of acoustically anisotropic media is presented in this paper.

70 GHz arbitrary modulation of chirped laser pulses by means of acousto-optics.

We report the arbitrary modulation of chirped ultrashort laser pulses with a 70 GHz bandwidth. In the proof-of-principle experiment, modulation of Ti:sapphire laser emission was performed by the acousto-optic dispersive delay line, and the temporal pulse shape was measured with a picosecond streak camera.

Anisotropic diffraction of bulk acoustic wave beams in lithium niobate.

The formalism of planar diffraction tensor was applied to the analysis of anisotropy of bulk acoustic wave diffraction and to build a full map of anisotropic diffractional coefficients for three bulk acoustic wave modes propagating in lithium niobate. For arbitrary propagation direction the diffractional coefficients derived allow estimation of ultrasonic beam divergence in far-field. Analysis of obtained data revealed that the maxima of acousto-optic figure of merit for anisotropic diffraction in the YZ plane correspond to moderate diffractional spreading of the beams exceeding isotropic diffraction 2-3 times.

Influence of acoustic anisotropy in paratellurite on quasicollinear acousto-optic interaction.

The influence of paratellurite acoustic anisotropy on the quasicollinear acousto-optic diffraction characteristics was examined. In the presented case the quasicollinear geometry of acousto-optic diffraction is realized with the use of acoustic beam reflection from one of the crystal surfaces. The simulations were based on the solution of acoustic beams propagation problem for anisotropic media previously presented in Balakshy and Mantsevich (2012).

Advanced spectral processing of broadband light using acousto-optic devices with arbitrary transmission functions.

In the paper, we developed a dispersive method for transmission function synthesis of collinear and quasi-collinear acousto-optic tunable filters. General theoretical consideration was performed, and modelling was made for broadband and narrowband signals. Experimental results on spectral shaping of femtosecond laser emission were obtained.