Electronic tuning of acoustic resonances in acousto-optic mode lockers

• Problem of electro-acoustic excitation of acousto-optic mode locker is solved.
• Influence of electric matching elements on acoustic resonances is studied.
• The studied effect can be used for automatic tuning of acousto-optic mode lockers.

The effect of electronic tuning of acoustic resonances in an acousto-optic mode locker is studied theoretically and experimentally. The tuning is implemented by means of changing a matching inductance connected to the transducer in parallel. Experimental investigations are carried out with a mode locker made of a fused quartz with a lithium niobate transducer. Varying magnitude of the inductor from 0.025 to 0.25 mH has made it possible to retune the acoustic resonance frequency by 0.19 MHz, i.e. wider than the acoustic resonance half-width.