Multi-channel laser system including an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and related methods

A laser system comprising:

• a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam;
• an ion trap;
• a first beamsplitter configured to split the laser light beam into a first front side laser light beam and a back side laser light beam for a back side of the ion trap;
• a multi-channel acousto-optic modulator (AOM) comprising
• a second beamsplitter to split the first front side laser light beam into a plurality of second front side laser light beams from the second beamsplitter, the second beamsplitter comprising a high efficiency diffractive optical element (DOE) and a set of telecentric beam forming optics associated therewith,
• a common acousto-optic medium configured to receive the plurality of front side laser light beams, and
• a respective plurality of electrodes coupled to the common acousto-optic medium for each of the second front side laser light beams;
• a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers configured to generate respective RF drive signals for each of the plurality of electrodes;
• an input telescope configured to direct the front side laser light beam to the second beamsplitter;
• an output telescope configured to direct the plurality of second front side laser light beams to a front side of the ion trap;
• at least one turning mirror to direct the back side laser light beam from the first beamsplitter to the back side of the ion trap;
• and
• a single-channel AOM positioned in the light path of the back side laser light beam between the beamsplitter and the ion trap.

A method comprising:

• generating a laser light beam with a laser source;
• splitting the laser light beam into a first front side laser light beam and a back side laser light beam for a back side of an ion trap using a first beamsplitter;
• directing the front side laser light beam to a second beamsplitter using an input telescope;
• and
• splitting the first front side laser light beam into a plurality of second front side laser light beams directed to a common acousto-optic medium using a second beamsplitter, wherein a respective plurality of electrodes is coupled to the acousto-optic medium for each of the second front side laser light beams;
• directing the plurality of second front side laser light beams to a front side of the ion trap using an output telescope;
• and
• generating respective RF drive signals for each of the plurality of electrodes using a plurality of radio frequency (RF) drivers.