Control system using a phase modulation capable acousto-optic modulator for diverting laser output intensity noise to a first order laser light beam and related methods

A laser system comprising:

• a laser source configured to generate a laser light beam;
• an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) comprising
• an acousto-optic medium configured to receive the laser light beam, and
• a phased array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium and configured to cause the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam;
• a beamsplitter downstream from the AOM and configured to split a sampled laser light beam from the zero order laser light beam;
• a photodetector configured to receive the sampled laser light beam and generate a feedback signal associated therewith;
• and
• a radio frequency (RF) driver configured to generate an RF drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal, the RF driver driving alternating electrodes of the phased array transducer electrodes with different phases, and an RF power level associated with the RF drive signal having a constant power.

A method comprising:

• generating a laser light beam using a laser source directed at an acousto-optic medium;
• causing the acousto-optic medium to output a zero order laser light beam and a first order diffracted laser light beam using a phased array transducer comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to the acousto-optic medium;
• splitting a sampled laser light beam from the zero order laser light beam using a beamsplitter downstream from the acousto-optic medium;
• generating a feedback signal associated with the sampled laser light beam;
• and
• generating a radio frequency (RF) drive signal to the phased array transducer electrodes with an RF driver so that noise is diverted to the first order diffracted laser light beam based upon the feedback signal.