Nanostructured acousto-optic device, and optical scanner, optical modulator, and holographic display apparatus using the nanostructured acousto-optic device

An acousto-optic device comprising:

• a first medium and a second medium repeatedly alternating with each other in a first direction to form a stacked structure, either one or both of the first medium and the second medium being formed of an acousto-optic medium;
• and
• a sonic wave generator configured to apply sonic waves to the stacked structure to form a phase grating in the stacked structure, the phase grating diffracting light incident on the stacked structure,
• wherein a period in which a thickness of the first medium and a thickness of the second medium alternate with each other is smaller than a half of a wavelength of visible light to be controlled by the acousto-optic device,
• wherein the acousto-optic device is configured to diffract light, the light being transmitted through sides of the acousto-optic device in a second direction transverse to the first direction in which the first medium and the second medium are alternately disposed, and
• wherein the sides through which the light is transmitted are perpendicular to a side on which the sonic wave generator is disposed.

An acousto-optic device comprising:

• a first medium and a second medium repeatedly alternating with each other to form a stacked structure, the first medium and/or the second medium being formed of an acousto-optic medium;
• and
• a sonic wave generator configured to apply sonic waves to the stacked structure to form a phase grating in the stacked structure, the phase grating diffracting light incident on the stacked structure,
• wherein a period in which a thickness of the first medium and a thickness of the second medium alternate with each other is smaller than a half of a wavelength of visible light to be controlled by the acousto-optic device,
• wherein the acousto-optic device is configured to diffract light that is transmitted through the acousto-optic device,
• wherein:
• the sonic generator is disposed on or over a first surface of the stacked structure that is perpendicular to a direction in which the first medium and the second medium repeatedly alternate with each other so that the first medium and the second medium repeatedly alternate with each other in a propagation direction of the sonic waves;
• and
• the light incident on the stacked structure is incident on a second surface of the stacked structure in a direction transverse to the direction in which the first medium and the second medium repeatedly alternate,
• wherein the second surface is perpendicular to the first surface.

An acousto-optic device comprising:

• an acousto-optic medium comprising a first medium, a second medium and a third medium successively alternating in linear layers, the first medium being directly in contact with the second medium and the second medium being directly in contact with the third medium;
• and
• a sonic wave generator configured to apply sonic waves to the acousto-optic medium,
• wherein a period in which the first, second, and third mediums alternate with one another is smaller than a half of a wavelength of light to be controlled by the acousto-optic device, and
• wherein the acousto-optic device is configured to diffract light that is transmitted through the acousto-optic device.

An acousto-optic device, comprising:

• a first medium and a second medium repeatedly alternating with each other in a lateral first direction;
• and
• a sonic wave generator configured to apply sonic waves to the first medium and the second medium,
• wherein a corresponding period in which a thickness of the first medium and a thickness of the second medium alternate with each other is smaller than a half of a wavelength of visible light to be controlled by the acousto-optic device, and
• wherein the acousto-optic device is configured to diffract the light, the light being transmitted through longitudinal sides of the acousto-optic device in a second direction transverse to the first direction in which the first medium and the second medium are alternately disposed, and
• wherein the longitudinal sides through which the light is transmitted are perpendicular to a side on which the sonic wave generator is disposed.