Acoustooptic device capable of internally cooling an acoustooptic element

Abstract

In an acoustooptic device for use in acoustooptically controlling a laser beam in response to an electric signal, an acoustooptic element is packaged in a housing which defines an internal space therein and which can circulate a coolant in the internal space through inlet and outlet portions to directly cool the acoustooptic element by the coolant. The housing comprises a case block providing the internal space and a pair of cap members which forms windows for the laser beam, respectively, and which is hermetically attached to the case block with a pair of seal members interposed between the case block and each of the cap members. Each seal member comprises a first O-ring placed around the window and a second O-ring placed outside of the first O-ring to hermetically seal the internal space. The acoustooptic element may comprise an acoustooptic medium having a pair of surfaces for the laser beam and a side surface contiguous to the surface, a transducer mounted on the side surface, and an absorber opposite the transducer. The internal space may be divided into first and second internal spaces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.