Acoustooptic interactions and devices

A review of recent advances in the understanding of the interaction of light and ultrasonic waves in solids and liquids is presented, emphasizing the Bragg diffraction regime wherein the diffracted optical energy is confined near one angular direction. The usefulness of optical beam probing techniques, using laser light sources, for investigating such subjects as ultrasonic attenuation and diffraction, acoustic nonlinear phenomena, magnetoelastic interactions, and photoelastic properties of materials is described. The application of the acoustooptic interaction for the design of devices intended to perform optical information processing functions is also mentioned. Present applications include optical modulators, switches, sequential scanners (such as are useful for television display), random access optical deflectors, and optical correlators. An attempt is made to describe the assets and liabilities of acoustooptic devices and to speculate concerning their future in the practical world.