Modulating Laser Beam with Radio Frequency - Bill

[Bill E]

Hello, I am interested in modulating a laser beam with a radio frequency. Can I input the signal to the laser, or do I need to modify the beam with something like a heterodyne interferometer. If both approaches would work, would the resulting beam be the same?

Thanks, Bill

 

[Claude Bile]

It depends on your laser system and how much bandwidth is available to your switching mechanism. An Electro-optic or Acousto-optic switch should have sufficient bandwidth to modulate the laser output at radio frequencies.

Claude.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hello, I am interested in modulating a laser beam with a radio frequency. Can I input the signal to the laser, or do I need to modify the beam with something like a heterodyne interferometer. If both approaches would work, would the resulting beam be the same?

Thanks, Bill

What are you modulating- the amplitude, the frequency, the polarization...?