An acousto-optic modulator for a CO2 laser rangefinder using heterodyne detection
Abstract
The ability to superimpose arbitrary modulation waveforms on a CW laser beam makes the acousto-optic modulator suitable for an important task: to apply modern microwave radar electronic signal-processing and signal-generation techniques to heterodyne CO2 laser radar systems. The fundamental constraints on modulator design are first presented graphically in a novel treatment. The fabrication of 50-70 MHz germanium-lithium niobate modulators for a CO2 laser radar is then described. Experimental measurements of efficiency (about 4% per electrical watt transducer input power) and rise time (approximately 40 nsec) are finally presented.
- Publication:
-
Optical and Quantum Electronics
- Pub Date:
- September 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980OptQE..12..419C
- Keywords:
-
- Acousto-Optics;
- Carbon Dioxide Lasers;
- Laser Range Finders;
- Light Modulation;
- Optical Heterodyning;
- Signal Detection;
- Continuous Wave Lasers;
- Fabrication;
- Germanium Compounds;
- Lithium Niobates;
- Optical Radar;
- Radar Data;
- Signal Processing;
- Instrumentation and Photography