Sound Wave Generation:

• An RF (Radio Frequency) signal is applied to a piezoelectric transducer.  
• This transducer converts the electrical signal into a high-frequency sound wave.  

Acoustic Wave Propagation:

• The generated sound wave travels through a crystal material (often made of materials like tellurium dioxide or lithium niobate).  
• As the sound wave propagates, it creates periodic variations in the density and refractive index of the crystal.  

Light Diffraction:

• When a beam of light enters the crystal, it interacts with the periodic variations in the refractive index caused by the sound wave.
• This interaction causes the light to diffract into multiple beams, known as diffraction orders.
• The angle of diffraction and the intensity of each diffraction order can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the RF signal.

Light Modulation:

• By carefully controlling the RF signal, we can manipulate the properties of the diffracted light:
• Intensity Modulation: Adjusting the amplitude of the RF signal can change the intensity of the diffracted light.  
• Frequency Shifting: Changing the frequency of the RF signal shifts the frequency of the diffracted light.  
• Beam Steering: Altering the direction of the sound wave within the crystal can deflect the diffracted light beam.  

Fiber Coupling:

• The desired diffraction order is selected and coupled into an optical fiber using a lens or other optical components.
• This fiber-coupled output allows for easy integration of the AOM into various optical systems.