Pushing the limits of acousto-optics deflectors

Abstract

This study investigates the performance and limitations of acousto-optic deflectors by analyzing photon-phonon interactions through a quantum-inspired corpuscular model. The objective is to diffract light homogeneously at N points simultaneously, ensuring uniform intensity distribution across all diffracted orders. A theoretical framework based on Feynman diagrams was developed, offering a detailed understanding of multi-frequency diffraction efficiency. This approach not only accounts for individual photon-phonon interactions but also considers their combined effects under varying acoustic power and frequency distributions. The findings contribute to optimizing light deflection systems, making them more efficient and versatile for advanced photonic applications such as confocal microscopy and holography.