Abstract
Dynamic behavior of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) based on diffractive optical element(s) (DOE)(s) was studied and found to be in agreement with predictions. The analog signal was translated to an angular deflection of a laser beam by means of an acousto-optic (AO) cell. The number of bits in this experimental demonstration was three, using an eight-element DOE array. The maximum sample rate was found to be 2.5 MS/s, the limiting factor being the transit time for the acoustic wave across the width of the laser beam in the AO cell. The study is intended as a first dynamic demonstration of a proposed ADC scheme previously demonstrated in a quasi-static version. The full potential of the ADC scheme will require the use of a fast tunable diode laser to replace the AO deflection scheme used here.
© 2003 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
Mathias Johansson, Björn Löfving, Sverker Hård, Lars Thylén, Mehran Mokhtari, Urban Westergren, and Costantino Pala
Appl. Opt. 39(17) 2881-2887 (2000)
George C. Valley
Opt. Express 15(5) 1955-1982 (2007)
Johan Stigwall and Sheila Galt
Appl. Opt. 45(18) 4310-4318 (2006)