# US 2021/0278710 A1 · Multi-channel laser system including an acousto-optic modulator (aom) with beam polarization switching and related methods

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- Number: US 2021/0278710 A1
- Document ID: US20210278710A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/324,415
- Filed: 2021-05-19
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-18
- Assignees: Eagle Technology, LLC
- Applicants: Eagle Technology, LLC
- Inventors: MICHAEL RAY LANGE; RANDALL K. MORSE; CATHERYN D. LOGAN; CURTIS R. NIEMEIER; DEAN A. HEIMMERMANN; PETER A. WASILOUSKY; CHRISTOPHER A. COREY; LEE MARTIN BURBERRY
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278710A1

## CPC

- G02F 1/11: based on acousto-optical elements, e.g. using variable diffraction by sound or like mechanical waves (acousto-optical deflection G02F1/33)
- G02F 1/113: {Circuit or control arrangements}
- G02F 1/0136: {for the control of polarisation, e.g. state of polarisation [SOP] control, polarisation scrambling, TE-TM mode conversion or separation (G02F1/0353 takes precedence)}
- G06E 1/02: operating upon the order or content of the data handled
- H05H 3/00: Production or acceleration of neutral particle beams, e.g. molecular or atomic beams
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G06E: OPTICAL COMPUTING DEVICES (digital storage using optical elements G11C13/04)
- H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS

## Abstract

A system may include a laser source, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) coupled to the laser source, an atom trap, and at least one optical medium coupled between the AOM and the atom trap. Furthermore, at least one piezoelectric transducer may be coupled to the at least one optical medium, and a beam polarization controller may be coupled to the at least one piezoelectric transducer.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-24. (canceled)

### Claim 25

A system comprising:
a laser source;
an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) coupled downstream from the laser source;
an optical medium body coupled downstream from the AOM and having a first stiffness;
a backing block coupled to the optical medium body and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness;
a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the optical medium body on a side thereof opposite the backing block so that the optical medium body is between the piezoelectric transducer and the backing block; and
a beam polarization controller coupled to the piezoelectric transducer.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the optical medium body comprises fused silica.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the optical medium body comprises quartz.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the AOM comprises:
a first beamsplitter to split a first laser light beam from the laser source into a plurality of second laser light beams for the atom trap;
a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of second laser light beams; and
a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second laser light beams.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28 comprising a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers each configured to generate respective RF drive signals for each of the plurality of electrodes.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28 wherein the second laser light beams are directed to a first side of the atom trap, and further comprising an intermediate beam splitter between the laser source and the multi-channel AOM configured to split a third laser light beam from the first laser light beam directed to a second side of the atom trap.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the backing block comprises SiC.

### Claim 32 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the backing block comprises AlN.

### Claim 33 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 comprising an atom trap downstream from the optical medium body.

### Claim 34

A system comprising:
a laser source;
an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) coupled downstream from the laser source;
an optical medium body coupled downstream of the AOM and having a first stiffness;
a backing block coupled to the optical medium body and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and
a piezoelectric transducer to be coupled to a beam polarization controller, the piezoelectric transducer coupled to the optical medium body on a side thereof opposite the backing block so that the optical medium body is between the piezoelectric transducer and the backing block.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 wherein the optical medium body comprises fused silica.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 wherein the optical medium body comprises quartz.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 wherein the AOM comprises:
a first beamsplitter to split a first laser light beam from the laser source into a plurality of second laser light beams for the atom trap;
a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of second laser light beams; and
a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second laser light beams.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37 comprising a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers each configured to generate respective RF drive signals for each of the plurality of electrodes.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37 wherein the second laser light beams are directed to a first side of the atom trap, and further comprising an intermediate beam splitter between the laser source and the multi-channel AOM configured to split a third laser light beam from the first laser light beam directed to a second side of the atom trap.

### Claim 40 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 wherein the backing block comprises SiC.

### Claim 41 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 wherein the backing block comprises AlN.

### Claim 42 (depends on 34)

The system of claim 34 comprising an atom trap downstream from the optical medium body.

### Claim 43

A method for controlling polarization of a modulated laser beam from an acousto-optic modulator (AOM), the method comprising:
selectively operating a polarization switching device downstream from the AOM, the polarization switching device comprising
an optical medium body having a first stiffness,
a backing block coupled to the optical medium body and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and
a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the optical medium body on a side thereof opposite the backing block so that the optical medium body is between the piezoelectric transducer and the backing block.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43 wherein the optical medium body comprises fused silica.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43 wherein the optical medium body comprises quartz.

### Claim 46 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43 wherein the backing block comprises SiC.

### Claim 47 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43 wherein the backing block comprises AlN.

### Claim 48 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43 comprising an atom trap downstream from the polarization switching device.