Combination of a 2-D acousto-optic deflector with laser amplifier for efficient scanning of a Q-switched ND : YAG laser

A two-dimensional acousto-optic deflector has been combined with a large an gular acceptance, laser diode-pumped Nd:YAG optical amplifier in order to o btain a scanning system with high angular resolution and with high and unif orm optical transmission. Experiments have been carried out in order to opt imize the set-up for intensity distribution and optical losses. The combina tion of newly developed nonlinear and active optical elements provides a re latively uniform intensity distribution over the scanned region correspondi ng to 300 x 300 discrete points in the back focal plane of a Fourier lens, at laser pulse energy levels of 1-5 mJ. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.