Abstract

An acoustooptic modulator is used to obtain unidirectional operation of a ring laser.¹ The use of the modulator for this purpose has the advantages of very low insertion loss and demonstrates the capability for electronic directional switching of the laser. Without adjustments the laser operates stably in one direction only for long periods of time. The direction of lasing is switched electronically in 10 μs by changing the rf applied to the modulator.

© 1987 Optical Society of America