Control of Acousto-Optic Mode Locker by Means of Electronic Matching Circuit

An acousto-optic mode locker (AOML) operating in a standing wave mode has a fixed working frequency, defined by the length of the crystal, which makes the device prone to temperature variations. In this study, we examine the effect of the electrical matching circuit parameters on the acoustic resonances and AO diffraction in the AOML both theoretically and experimentally. Acoustical and electrical models of the AOML are introduced. We outline the ways of utilizing this effect for compensation of ill thermal influence. Our analysis allows us to broaden the temperature and driving power domains of an AOML's reliable operation without a heat sink or a complicated temperature stabilization system.