Influence of sound distribution on acousto-optic cell characteristics

The influence of acoustic field amplitude inhomogenity on the transmission function form in an AO cell is investigated in present paper. It is shown that the decrease of the acoustic field on input and output of the crystal results in diminution of the first and the second side lobes level of the AO cell transmission function. According to the results calculated, the acoustic field amplitude alteration in the regions symmetrical relative to the crystal center equally affects the AO cell side maxima level. The symmetric distribution of the transmission function left and right side lobes remains intact at any alteration of an acoustic field. The distortion of this symmetry occurs when allowing for an acoustic field phase shift. The propositions mentioned above make it possible to drive the AO cell transmission function side lobes level. The presented example of an acoustic amplitude distribution along the optical propagation direction demonstrates the substantial (down to 5 times) side lobes level suppression.