The acousto-optic effect, also known as Brillouin scattering, occurs when sound waves interact with an opaque medium to cause light diffraction. First predicted by Leon Brillouin in 1922 and first experimentally demonstrated by Lucas Biquard and Debye Sears in 1932, it can be observed anywhere sound waves pass over surfaces that contain such obstacles as metal surfaces.
Acoustic-optic interactions can be modulated by altering the frequency and amplitude of soundwaves, thus altering optical properties such as intensity, phase shift, or polarization of light.
Acoustic-optic interactions can be modulated by altering the frequency and amplitude of soundwaves, thus altering optical properties such as intensity, phase shift, or polarization of light.
Leon Brillouin
The acousto-optic effect is defined as the resonant interaction of acoustic waves with optical waves – an interaction known as Brillouin scattering. This phenomenon can be observed across many media types and has many applications.
Leon Brillouin was a French physicist best known as the inventor of the acousto-optic effect and also pioneered solid state physics and information theory.
In 1922, Brillouin predicted and theoretically described the scattering of optical waves by acoustic phonons in a medium; this phenomenon is now known as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS).
Though not the first to predict the interaction of optical and acoustic waves, his work had a profound impact in this field. Additionally, he explored optical fibers, spectroscopy, and lasers.
As a student, Brillouin studied under Arnold Sommerfeld who had an enormous impact on his scientific career. Brillouin applied one of Sommerfeld’s techniques for investigating light propagation through dispersive media to light propagation problems; later this resulted in a mathematical tool useful in solving multi-particle statistical issues.
His contributions to quantum mechanics and radiowave propagation in the atmosphere were profound. Additionally, he contributed greatly to solid-state physics through electron theory and information theory research.
He published over two hundred papers and several dozen books in physics. Additionally, he was an active member of the American Academy of Sciences.
World War I saw him recruited by the army for research on radio transmission. Soon thereafter he established himself as an expert in this field, earning himself the Legion of Honor award and later enjoying an illustrious academic career.
After World War II, he immigrated to the United States. From 1947-1949 he served as a professor at Harvard University before transitioning into IBM (1949-1954).
Brillouin was widely considered one of the most influential physicists of his era, famed for his modern approach to physics and an open mind towards solving cross-disciplinary issues. Additionally, he campaigned tirelessly against national isolationism that had permeated French scientific communities before World War II.
Leon Brillouin was a French physicist best known as the inventor of the acousto-optic effect and also pioneered solid state physics and information theory.
In 1922, Brillouin predicted and theoretically described the scattering of optical waves by acoustic phonons in a medium; this phenomenon is now known as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS).
Though not the first to predict the interaction of optical and acoustic waves, his work had a profound impact in this field. Additionally, he explored optical fibers, spectroscopy, and lasers.
As a student, Brillouin studied under Arnold Sommerfeld who had an enormous impact on his scientific career. Brillouin applied one of Sommerfeld’s techniques for investigating light propagation through dispersive media to light propagation problems; later this resulted in a mathematical tool useful in solving multi-particle statistical issues.
His contributions to quantum mechanics and radiowave propagation in the atmosphere were profound. Additionally, he contributed greatly to solid-state physics through electron theory and information theory research.
He published over two hundred papers and several dozen books in physics. Additionally, he was an active member of the American Academy of Sciences.
World War I saw him recruited by the army for research on radio transmission. Soon thereafter he established himself as an expert in this field, earning himself the Legion of Honor award and later enjoying an illustrious academic career.
After World War II, he immigrated to the United States. From 1947-1949 he served as a professor at Harvard University before transitioning into IBM (1949-1954).
Brillouin was widely considered one of the most influential physicists of his era, famed for his modern approach to physics and an open mind towards solving cross-disciplinary issues. Additionally, he campaigned tirelessly against national isolationism that had permeated French scientific communities before World War II.
Piezoelectric transducers
Piezoelectric transducers are transducers that convert mechanical force to an electric charge, making them suitable for measuring dynamic pressure. You may find them used in ultrasound applications, shock measuring sensors, airbags and acceleration measurements among many others.
Self-correcting adaptive systems that detect and respond to changes in the operating environment have become increasingly popular for monitoring structural health and active damping applications.
These devices are often comprised of piezoelectric ceramics, single crystals or film materials with their sensitivity depending on which materials they’re composed of.
Their small size makes them perfect for dynamic applications; however, their output voltage may sometimes be low; therefore an external amplifier must be utilized in order to get accurate results.
Additionally, these tools can only measure dynamic pressure measurements and are unsuited for static measurements.
Piezoelectric materials are a class of materials which generate an electric field when exposed to mechanical stress (pressure). Carl Linaeus and Franz Aepinus first observed this effect back in the mid-1800s; however, it wasn’t until Jacques and Pierre Curie demonstrated it at the macroscopic scale that scientists truly began appreciating its significance and usefulness.
Piezoelectric materials possess two main properties that distinguish them: their polarization and compliance. Polarization changes with mechanical stress while compliance is an inverse relationship with Young’s modulus of applied force.
There are various common piezoelectric materials, including quartz, tourmaline and Rochelle salt. While their piezoelectric effects are very minor, certain synthetic materials like barium titanate and lead zirconate titanium exhibit very high piezoelectric constants.
During World War II, various research groups from the United States, Japan and Russia independently developed ferroelectric materials like barium titanate and lead zirconate titanate that demonstrated even greater piezoelectric sensitivity than their natural counterparts.
These new piezoelectric materials allowed researchers to develop ultrasonic time-domain reflectometers which could detect flaws in cast metal and stone objects, thus improving safety measures. Their introduction marked an explosion in materials research.
Self-correcting adaptive systems that detect and respond to changes in the operating environment have become increasingly popular for monitoring structural health and active damping applications.
These devices are often comprised of piezoelectric ceramics, single crystals or film materials with their sensitivity depending on which materials they’re composed of.
Their small size makes them perfect for dynamic applications; however, their output voltage may sometimes be low; therefore an external amplifier must be utilized in order to get accurate results.
Additionally, these tools can only measure dynamic pressure measurements and are unsuited for static measurements.
Piezoelectric materials are a class of materials which generate an electric field when exposed to mechanical stress (pressure). Carl Linaeus and Franz Aepinus first observed this effect back in the mid-1800s; however, it wasn’t until Jacques and Pierre Curie demonstrated it at the macroscopic scale that scientists truly began appreciating its significance and usefulness.
Piezoelectric materials possess two main properties that distinguish them: their polarization and compliance. Polarization changes with mechanical stress while compliance is an inverse relationship with Young’s modulus of applied force.
There are various common piezoelectric materials, including quartz, tourmaline and Rochelle salt. While their piezoelectric effects are very minor, certain synthetic materials like barium titanate and lead zirconate titanium exhibit very high piezoelectric constants.
During World War II, various research groups from the United States, Japan and Russia independently developed ferroelectric materials like barium titanate and lead zirconate titanate that demonstrated even greater piezoelectric sensitivity than their natural counterparts.
These new piezoelectric materials allowed researchers to develop ultrasonic time-domain reflectometers which could detect flaws in cast metal and stone objects, thus improving safety measures. Their introduction marked an explosion in materials research.
Optical diffraction
The Acousto-Optic Effect is an optical technique which utilizes acoustic waves to manipulate light. First identified by Leon Brillouin in 19221, its discovery has since become an active area of research. Acousto-Optic can be used to deflect light into various spatial modes, modulate intensity or shift frequency.
Contrary to classical light waves, which travel in straight lines, light diffraction occurs when waves pass through gaps that are much smaller than their wavelength (see two-slit example below). Diffraction patterns are visible in many circumstances – from credit card holograms and sunset clouds reflecting sunlight back onto them to credit card holograms with visible diffraction.
Diffraction is an efficient means of transmitting light, especially for high-speed communication systems, because acoustic waves can influence the direction and amplitude of light signals transmitted.
Acousto-optic modulators use piezoelectric transducers to introduce soundwaves into a medium, and those waves are then reflected back out as optical diffraction patterns by materials within that medium. This process can be used to change both the amplitude and frequency of light sources as well as signal processing applications.
Acousto-optic devices do have some drawbacks. Their designs must be carefully considered in order to provide maximum light intensity in a single diffused beam, since acoustic waves take time to cross across it and thus impede switching speeds as well as modulation bandwidths.
Researchers have created acousto-optic modulators that can be integrated into photonic circuits to overcome these limitations, providing control of light amplitude as well as switching it on or off for higher-speed data transmission.
Acousto-optic modules developed by these researchers can also be integrated into fiber-optic communication systems. These transducers work by injecting acoustic waves into a medium and redirecting light as it passes through.
These acousto-optic modules can be combined with other photonic components to form integrated circuits that manipulate light in new ways, which may help to enhance fiber-optic communication and increase optical sensor sensitivity.
Contrary to classical light waves, which travel in straight lines, light diffraction occurs when waves pass through gaps that are much smaller than their wavelength (see two-slit example below). Diffraction patterns are visible in many circumstances – from credit card holograms and sunset clouds reflecting sunlight back onto them to credit card holograms with visible diffraction.
Diffraction is an efficient means of transmitting light, especially for high-speed communication systems, because acoustic waves can influence the direction and amplitude of light signals transmitted.
Acousto-optic modulators use piezoelectric transducers to introduce soundwaves into a medium, and those waves are then reflected back out as optical diffraction patterns by materials within that medium. This process can be used to change both the amplitude and frequency of light sources as well as signal processing applications.
Acousto-optic devices do have some drawbacks. Their designs must be carefully considered in order to provide maximum light intensity in a single diffused beam, since acoustic waves take time to cross across it and thus impede switching speeds as well as modulation bandwidths.
Researchers have created acousto-optic modulators that can be integrated into photonic circuits to overcome these limitations, providing control of light amplitude as well as switching it on or off for higher-speed data transmission.
Acousto-optic modules developed by these researchers can also be integrated into fiber-optic communication systems. These transducers work by injecting acoustic waves into a medium and redirecting light as it passes through.
These acousto-optic modules can be combined with other photonic components to form integrated circuits that manipulate light in new ways, which may help to enhance fiber-optic communication and increase optical sensor sensitivity.
Applications
Acousto-optic effects have been used to develop various devices, such as modulators, deflectors and tunable acousto-optic filters, which allow for precise control over light beams or laser beams in terms of their amplitude, frequency and direction.
Acoustic-optic effects rely on changing the refractive index of materials due to sound waves resonating in them, leading to changes in light intensity within and causing diffraction or scattering effects.
This effect resembles Bragg diffraction and can be observed in various materials with differing acoustic frequencies, at various angles of incidence and at various diffraction orders (.2-1.0-1 2-3…) with bessel functions providing intensity calculations for each order.
Acoustic-optic diffraction is widely utilized by acousto-optic modulators. These devices utilize sound waves to modulate an incoming beam of light that ultimately diffracts at an angle, producing an image. Acoustic-optic modulators are versatile devices which can accommodate wide bandwidths for use as regenerative amplifiers, Q-switches, mode locking of ultrafast lasers and more.
Acousto-optic modulators do have some drawbacks, however. One is that acoustic waves must travel across the entire diameter of the light beam in order to switch quickly; another issue is focusing them onto an extremely small point at which interaction takes place; this may limit modulation bandwidth, so careful selection must be made regarding minimum focused size requirements.
Acoustic modulators are widely utilized for use in regenerative amplifiers, Q-switches, and mode locking of ultrafast lasers – devices requiring high precision and therefore benefiting greatly from using acousto-optic modulators to optimize their performance.
Acoustic-optic imaging is another significant application of acoustic-optic modulators, employing acoustic waves to focus light onto tissue for medical imaging purposes. Interdigital transducers attached to thin-film piezoelectric materials like zinc oxide3, gallium arsenide4, and lithium niobate2,3 can generate these acoustic waves for this application.
These materials are highly transparent, so when sound waves are introduced into them they can cause periodic variations in the refractive index that create light diffraction that can be detected by photo detectors. An acoustic-optic signal generated in such studies can then be analyzed for information regarding structure and metabolism of tissues being studied.
Acoustic-optic effects rely on changing the refractive index of materials due to sound waves resonating in them, leading to changes in light intensity within and causing diffraction or scattering effects.
This effect resembles Bragg diffraction and can be observed in various materials with differing acoustic frequencies, at various angles of incidence and at various diffraction orders (.2-1.0-1 2-3…) with bessel functions providing intensity calculations for each order.
Acoustic-optic diffraction is widely utilized by acousto-optic modulators. These devices utilize sound waves to modulate an incoming beam of light that ultimately diffracts at an angle, producing an image. Acoustic-optic modulators are versatile devices which can accommodate wide bandwidths for use as regenerative amplifiers, Q-switches, mode locking of ultrafast lasers and more.
Acousto-optic modulators do have some drawbacks, however. One is that acoustic waves must travel across the entire diameter of the light beam in order to switch quickly; another issue is focusing them onto an extremely small point at which interaction takes place; this may limit modulation bandwidth, so careful selection must be made regarding minimum focused size requirements.
Acoustic modulators are widely utilized for use in regenerative amplifiers, Q-switches, and mode locking of ultrafast lasers – devices requiring high precision and therefore benefiting greatly from using acousto-optic modulators to optimize their performance.
Acoustic-optic imaging is another significant application of acoustic-optic modulators, employing acoustic waves to focus light onto tissue for medical imaging purposes. Interdigital transducers attached to thin-film piezoelectric materials like zinc oxide3, gallium arsenide4, and lithium niobate2,3 can generate these acoustic waves for this application.
These materials are highly transparent, so when sound waves are introduced into them they can cause periodic variations in the refractive index that create light diffraction that can be detected by photo detectors. An acoustic-optic signal generated in such studies can then be analyzed for information regarding structure and metabolism of tissues being studied.
