Acousto-optic modulator for optical fibers using Hertzian contact with a grooved transducer substrate

An acousto-optic device comprising:

• an optical waveguide for propagating light along a first optical path wherein a portion of a surface of said optical waveguide defines a substantially curved configuration along at least a portion of the length of said waveguide;
• an acoustic transmission member having a groove extending along a portion of its length, wherein a portion of the curved surface of the optical waveguide is secured in Hertzian contact with the groove about a portion of the curve and along a continuous portion of the waveguide's length;
• and
• an acoustic transducer secured upon the acoustic transmission member so as to generate acoustic waves for propagation through an acoustic path extending from the transducer through said acoustic transmission member and through the Hertzian contact area into said first optical path, with the acoustic path through said Hertzian contact area being formed entirely of solid material, thereby producing interaction between the acoustic waves and light traveling along the first optical path.

an acousto-optic phase modulator comprising:

• a single mode optical fiber for propagating light along a first optical path;
• a portion of a capillary configured so as to define a groove along a portion of its length, wherein a portion of the single mode optical fiber is secured in Hertzian contact with a portion of the groove;
• and
• an acoustic transducer secured upon the capillary so as to generate acoustic waves for propagation through an acoustic path extending from said transducer through said capillary and then through the optical waveguide into said first optical path, with the acoustic path between said capillary and said optical waveguide being formed entirely of solid material, thereby producing interaction between the acoustic waves and light traveling along the first optical path, so as to modulate phase of light traveling along the optical path in the waveguide.

An acousto-optic frequency shifter comprising:

• a multi-mode optical fiber having at least first and second modes available for transmission of light therein along a first optical path;
• a portion of a capillary configured so as to define a groove along a portion of its length, and having an external surface which is substantially opposite to the surface containing the groove, and which defines a substantially flat surface that is angularly oriented with respect to the plane of said groove, and wherein a portion of the multi-mode optical fiber is secured in Hertzian contact with a portion of the groove;
• and
• an acoustic transducer secured upon the capillary so as to transmit acoustic waves from said transducer through said capillary and into the waveguide along an acoustic path which, between said capillary and said waiveguide, is formed entirely of solid material and which intersects the first optical path at an angle selected to cause light traveling in at least one of the first and second modes along said first optical path to be frequency shifted.

An acousto-optic mode coupler comprising:

• a multi-mode optical fiber having at least first and second modes available for transmission of light therein along a first optical path;
• a portion of a capillary configured so as to define a groove along a portion of its length, and having an external surface which is substantially opposite to the surface containing the groove, and which defines a substantially flat surface that is angularly oriented with respect to the plane of said groove, and wherein a portion of the multi-mode optical fiber is secured in Hertzian contact with a portion of the groove;
• and
• an acoustic transducer secured upon the capillary so as to transmit acoustic waves from said transducer through said capillary and into the waveguide along an acoustic path which, between said capillary and said waveguide, is formed entirely of solid material and which intersects the first optical path at an angle selected to cause light traveling in at least one of the first and second modes along said first optical path to be coupled into the other of said first and second modes.