Abstract

The theory of acoustooptic (AO) interactions can be established from a wave (diffraction) viewpoint or a particle (photon-photon scattering) viewpoint. Recently the theory of Feynman diagrams was used with some success to further develop a scattering-based theory of acoustooptic interactions. We have augmented that approach with a state-space representation of the possible scattering interactions. This state-space representation greatly simplifies the combinatoric problems that must be solved to determine scattering amplitudes (diffraction efficiencies) in various acoustooptic diffraction regimes. We have used it to extend the Feynman diagram theory of AO interactions to include the case where an arbitrary number of acoustic frequencies are present in the AO device. No other method, wave- or particle-based, has been successful in this regard. The basic approach is outlined and results are presented for multiple-frequency diffraction in four different regimes: Raman-Nath, isotropic or nondegenerate birefringent Bragg, axial birefringent Bragg, and rediffractable birefringent Bragg.

© 1989 Optical Society of America