Acousto-optic cell for controlling rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized optical radiation

An acousto-optic cell is developed that allows the polarization plane of linearly polarized light to be rotated by an angle depending on the acoustic wave frequency. The effect is based on the combining of two mutually orthogonal optical waves whose polarizations are close to circular, with the phase of one of the waves changing under the action of a sound wave. A cell made of paratellurite crystal allows the polarization plane angle of linearly polarized light with a wavelength of 0.63 μm from 0° to ∼ 30° to be changed by varying the sound frequency from 38 to 43 MHz.