CONTINUOUS DEFLECTION OF LASER BEAMS

Abstract
An optical beam has been continuously deflected through an angle of 4° by tuning an acoustic wave in a birefringent crystal of sapphire from 1.28 to 1.83 Gc. The method is based on the change in polarization of the deflected light as compared to the incident light. The system should be capable of deflecting an optical beam through 1000 spot diameters.