A LOW-COST RF DRIVER FOR ACOUSTO-OPTIC MODULATOR
ABSTRACT: We report in this
paper the construction of a simple, low-cost, yet functional RF driver for an acousto-optic
modulator (AOM). This circuit is built
as an alternative to the relatively expensive commercially available one. The
construction follows the ARRL guide in designing an 80 MHz transistor power
amplifier with an LC matching network to deliver about 1 W of power to a 50Ω
load (the AOM) either continuously or pulsed.
Care must be taken in the circuit construction in order not to generate
too much power which can destroy the costly AOM. The finished circuit can drive
an AOM to diffract a laser beam to a first-order with 80% efficiency. The
diffracted beam is then used a light source in an optical fibre heterodyne interferometer to produce an 80
MHz or 160 MHz optical beat signal.
Author: Tomi Budi Waluyo, Imam
Mulyanto, Husen On
Journal Code: jpfisikagg080003
