Nanosecond response of Bragg deflectors in periodically poled LiNbO3

For the first time, transients are measured for a bulk-optical Bragg-deflector based on an electrooptically (EO) induced grating in periodically poled LiNbO/sub 3/ (PPLN). Optical pulse risetimes of 1.2 ns are reported with a first-order diffraction efficiency of 76% for circular Gaussian beams. The fast risetime is accounted for by a substantially suppressed excitation of acoustic thickness modes and careful electrode design. For many applications, the device could replace both acoustooptical Bragg-deflectors and conventional EO amplitude modulators due to a fivefold reduction in risetime and fourfold reduction in drive power, respectively.