1064nm Fiber AOM vs Free Space AOM: Which is Better for Your Experiment?
1064nm Fiber AOM vs Free Space AOM: Which is Better for Your Experiment?
Blog Article
In the field of optical experiments, the acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is a key device for achieving precise control of lasers. 1064nm fiber AOM and free-space AOM are two common types. Understanding their characteristics is crucial for choosing the AOM that suits the experimental requirements.
Structure and integration degree
1064nm optical fiber AOM
The 1064nm optical fiber AOM adopts optical fiber coupling technology and has the advantage of integration. It integrates the driver and the device together, featuring a compact structure and small size. This integrated design makes the system more concise, reducing external connections and potential failure points. For instance, in some experimental devices with strict space requirements, optical fiber AOM can be easily embedded in the system without occupying too much space. Meanwhile, its all-metal structure packaging ensures good temperature stability and reliability, and can resist external environmental interference to a certain extent.
Free Space AOM
Free space AOM is not bound by optical fibers, and the laser interacts directly with sound and light in free space. It usually has a large aperture and can accommodate beams of larger diameters. In some experiments that need to handle large-sized beams, free-space AOM has inherent advantages. However, due to the lack of integrated packaging, its structure is relatively decentralized, requiring more space to arrange related components and being more sensitive to external environmental interference.
Transmission characteristics
1064nm optical fiber AOM
The 1064nm optical fiber AOM uses optical fibers for optical signal transmission and features low insertion loss. When optical signals are transmitted in optical fibers, energy loss can be effectively reduced to ensure the strength and quality of the signals. Moreover, the waveguide characteristics of optical fibers make the transmission of optical signals more stable and less susceptible to interference from external stray light. This performs well in experiments with high requirements for the strength and stability of optical signals, such as laser Doppler coherence applications. However, the flexibility of optical fibers is limited, and in some experiments that require frequent adjustment of the optical path, it may be subject to certain restrictions.
Free Space AOM
Free-space AOM allows lasers to propagate in free space, offering greater flexibility. Laboratory personnel can conveniently adjust the optical path to change the propagation direction and path of the laser. In some experiments that require flexible construction of optical paths, such as optical imaging experiments, free-space AOM can meet diverse optical path requirements. However, free-space transmission is susceptible to environmental factors such as air disturbances and dust, which may lead to the scattering and attenuation of optical signals and affect the accuracy of experimental results.
Application scenarios
1064nm optical fiber AOM
In the experiments related to fiber lasers, 1064nm fiber AOM is an ideal choice. For example, in the experiment of Q-switched fiber lasers, it can precisely modulate the laser to achieve the pulse output of the laser. In some scientific research experiments with high requirements for system integration and stability, such as precise spectral measurement experiments, the low loss and high stability characteristics of optical fiber AOM can ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental data.
Free Space AOM
Free-space AOM is suitable for experiments that require large aperture and highly flexible optical paths. In the laser material processing experiment, it can conveniently guide the laser to the processing area and flexibly adjust the parameters of the laser according to the processing requirements. In some optical measurement experiments, such as when using the principle of laser interference to measure the surface topography of objects, the free-space AOM can flexibly construct the interference optical path to meet the requirements of different measurement scenarios.
Both 1064nm optical fiber AOM and free-space AOM have their own advantages and disadvantages. If the experiment has compact requirements for space and high requirements for the stability and integration of optical signals, 1064nm optical fiber AOM is a better choice. If the experiment requires flexible adjustment of the optical path and processing of large-sized beams, the free-space AOM can better meet the requirements. Laboratory personnel should, based on specific experimental requirements, comprehensively consider the characteristics of both and make the most appropriate decision. Report this page