A compact and efficient diode-pumped acousto-optically Q -switched intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:Y VO(4)/KTP green laser is demonstrated. With 0.5-at. % Nd:Y VO(4), greater than 4.6 W of 532-nm average power at a repetition rate of 50 kHz was generated with 17-W pump power, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 27%. At 10-30 kHz the pulse width is shorter than 10 ns, and the peak power...

This work first considers a review of the dominant current methods for fibre Bragg grating wavelength interrogation. These methods include WDM interferometry, tunable filter (both Fabry-Perot and acousto-optic) demultiplexing, CCD/prism technique and a newer hybrid method utilizing Fabry-Perot and interferometric techniques. Two applications using these techniques are described: hull loads moni...

The spectral resolution is a main index of evaluating the performance of the designed acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). In this letter, an accurate expression of the spectral resolution is presented by considering both the birefringence and the rotatory property of TeO2 crystal. The deduced expression is significant in improving the accuracy of the design of an AOTF and pushing the developme...

A novel multichannel vector sum phase shifter that is suitable for phased array antenna applications is demonstrated. Each channel is implemented using a distinct optical wavelength. Selective control of each channel is performed using an acousto-optic polarization coupler. The concept is successfully demonstrated for two individually controlled channels. For each channel, a continuously variab...

The hyperfine transitions in the 399 nm S0↔ P1 line in Yb overlap with the transition in Yb. We use transverse laser cooling on this line to selectively deflect Yb atoms from a thermal beam containing both isotopes. We then use an acousto-optic modulator to span the frequency difference between the hyperfine transitions, and hence measure hyperfine structure in the P1 state. Our precise values ...

The measurement of optical contrasts within thick biological tissues can be performed with the hybrid technique of acousto-optic imaging, but it has been shown that an acquisition rate in the 1-10kHz range is required for a good efficiency. This comes from the interferometric nature of the signal, blurred by speckle decorrelation in a time t(c), due to a decrease of the speckle pattern contrast...

Acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) arranged in series and driven with linearly chirped frequencies can rapidly focus and tilt optical wavefronts, enabling high-speed 3D random access microscopy. Non-linearly chirped acoustic drive frequencies can also be used to shape the optical wavefront allowing a range of higher-order aberrations to be generated. However, to date, wavefront shaping with AODs h...

Modern microscopy in life sciences is ruled by development and exploration of new dyes and stains (probes for histochemical staining, quantum dots, fluorescent proteins etc.) on one side, and technological improvements and innovations for fluorescence microscopy – especially high resolution and optical sectioning microscopy – on the other side. Concerning the technical innovations, several inge...