Fiber-Coupled Acousto-Optic Modulators: How A Clever Little Package Continues To Shape The Future

For many OEMs involved in material processing within manufacturing, fiber and fiber-coupled lasers are at the heart of the value they deliver to their end clients across different application areas.

Controlling the output from these fiber optic lasers – the timing, intensity, and temporal shape of the beam — is critical. So, too, is the ability to do this reliably, efficiently, cost-effectively, and in a way that is tailored to the requirements of the specific design and application in question. In many cases, the key component enabling this control is a fiber-coupled acousto-optic modulator (FCAOM).

Back in 2009, G&H combined its micro-optical packaging capabilities and acousto-optic expertise to create a groundbreaking device for the fiber laser industry. The resulting Fiber-Q® brought the flexibility and reliability of acousto-optics to the fiber optic industry for the first time, in the form of a compact, robust, low loss device that could be easily integrated into all-fiber laser architecture without compromising on the key benefits offered by fiber-based systems. This versatile package set the bar for fiber-couple acousto-optic modulators.

Today, many laser applications have come to rely on Fiber-Q for its high performance and durability, while its versatility has seen the product adopted for a wide range of applications. But Fiber-Q is not standing still. The G&H team are continuously evolving the device for new and emerging technologies.