Abstract:
A spherical depression lens is formed in a spherical depression in the substrate of the waveguide and a waveguide index lens is formed over the depression lens whereby the combination of the two lenses provides a high resolution waveguide lens for optical waveguides.
Abstract:
A parametric device for acoustic waves which does not depend on the non-linearities of a medium for operation. Both degenerate and non-degenerate parametric amplifier/converters are provided in which first order velocity changes give parametric interactions. The electric field associated with an acoustic wave in a piezolectric medium is modulated by an electric pump wave. This is accomplished by modulating the conductivity of a region in the piezoelectric medium, or close to that medium. The resulting modulation of the K-vector of the acoustic wave leads to parametric interactions between the acoustic signal wave, the electric pump wave, and the generated idler wave. Various effects, such as the field effect and the photoconductive effect, are used to modulate the conductivity of the region.
Abstract:
A system for deflecting a light beam such as a laser beam including a crystal substrate, preferably piezoelectric, having a reflective coating on its surface which functions as a mirror. At least one surface acoustic wave transducer is mounted on the crystal and is actuated by a high-frequency signal source. The transducer propagates surface acoustic waves on the crystal, which produce a periodic deformation on the mirror surface which functions as a phase grating. A light beam directed onto the mirror surface will therefore be deflected at an angle dependent on the acoustic frequency of the surface waves. A plurality of transducers arranged approximately in a semicircle on the crystal and selectively actuated provides a two-dimensional scanning system.
Abstract:
A system for deflecting a light beam in two dimensions is described. The system includes a piezoelectric crystal having an acoustic surface wave transducer on its surface for propagating acoustic surface waves on the crystal. Means are provided for applying a nonuniform electric field to the crystal to vary the effective stiffness constant of the crystal in a nonuniform manner. When a beam of laser light is directed onto the crystal it is deflected in one dimension as a function of the frequency of the acoustic wave produced by the transducer and in a second dimension as a function of the nonuniform electric field.
Abstract:
A volume reflector which may be employed as one or both of the end mirrors of a laser cavity. A laser cavity is provided including an active medium which is excited to produce stimulated emissions of light. A reflective means is located at each end of the cavity to reflect the light back into the cavity. One or both of the reflective means is an acoustic cell which is connected to a source of input signal, preferably at a microwave frequency. When particular relationships are satisfied, the light impinging on the acoustic cell is reflected back 180* by the standing acoustic wave fronts throughout the volume of the acoustic cell.
Abstract:
An injection laser whose light output is spatially modulated by internal effects in the active region of the laser. An acoustic wave is launched into the laser and is existent only in a small area including the active region of the laser. In low acoustic frequency operation, the acoustic wave is steered over an angle theta to cause the laser light output to be steered through this angle. In high frequency operation, the frequency of the acoustic wave can be changed to steer the light output, or the acoustic wave can be steered to cause light deflection, as in the low frequency case. The acoustic wave causes phase modulation and loss modulation which results in scanning of the light output. The acoustic wave can be a surface acoustic wave, a Love wave, or a Stonley wave.
Abstract:
An amplifier for Rayleigh surface acoustic waves in which an additional control is provided. A region of variable conductivity is located in close proximity to the surface on which the acoustic wave travels. Examples of this region are an inversion layer whose conductivity is controlled by electrical bias, and a bulk region whose conductivity is controlled by a variable width depletion region. The electric field produced by moving charge carriers in the variable conductivity region interacts with the piezoelectric field produced by the acoustic wave to transfer energy to the acoustic wave, or extract energy from this wave.
Abstract:
An integrated acoustic surface wave device is provided by this disclosure wherein a piezoelectric field associated with an acoustic surface wave causes a material adjacent to the surface to transform from one physical state to another physical state. The changes in state due to the presence of the piezoelectric wave are utilized to detect, amplify and store information. The presence of the piezoelectric wave controls external physical quantities, e.g., voltage and current, for information processing and storage. In particular, an amorphous semiconducting material is deposited on the surface of a piezoelectric surface wave acoustic delay line at a location where the presence of the traversing piezoelectric wave is to be detected. Contact electrodes are provided on the amorphous material and are connected to an external electrical circuit wherein there is a voltage source and a load means. The voltage source provides an electric field in the amorphous material of a value below that necessary to achieve the threshold value for switching the material from a high-voltage and low-current state to a highcurrent and low-voltage state. In this manner, the piezoelectric field of the acoustic surface wave which transiently appears at the amorphous material when added to the externally applied electric field causes it to switch states and thereby gives rise to a pulse indication in the external electrical circuit. Accordingly, an integrated apparatus in accordance with this disclosure includes a piezoelectric surface wave delay line and an amorphous semiconductor film. A transducer on the surface of the piezoelectric crystal generates piezoelectric surface waves therein, and a local receiving transducer which serves as the electrodes for the amorphous semiconductor film intercepts the piezoelectric surface wave. The electric field associated with the surface wave supplements a bias electric field at the amorphous semiconductor film and causes the states thereof to switch and provides an indication of the presence of the piezoelectric wave in the external electric circuit connected to the amorphous film.
Abstract:
A system for parametric amplification and detection of signals using an acoustic diffraction device in combination with two or more laser cavities. Two types of operation are provided in the disclosure. In the first type of operation, two laser cavities are arranged so that the axes of the cavities intersect at a selected angle. An acoustic Bragg cell is located in the cavities at the intersection point. The two end mirrors of the first cavity are fully reflective. One mirror of the second cavity is fully reflective and the other mirror is partially reflective and partially transmissive. The first laser cavity is operated above threshold condition and the second cavity is operated below threshold condition. When a signal having a particular frequency f is applied to the Bragg cell, part of the laser light of the first cavity is diffracted into the second cavity and raises the gain of the cavity above the threshold condition. The second cavity then oscillates and the output of the second cavity is detected through the partially transmissive mirror. In the second type of operation, the structure is the same, however, if desired, both cavities may operate above threshold. When a signal at frequency f is applied to the Bragg cell, light is diffracted from the first cavity into the second cavity and the two cavities become coupled and oscillate only at frequencies which can be supported by the two cavities operating independently. The laser light from the output mirror therefore changes frequency indicating the detection of a signal at frequency f.