Unidirectional device for a ring laser using an acousto-optic modulator

The behavior of the first-order diffracted beam of an acousto-optic modulator is investigated under rotation of the acousto-optic crystal about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the incident and diffracted beams. It is found that the diffraction efficiency as a function of this rotation is not symmetric about the Bragg angle of incidence. A unidirectional device for a ring dye laser that uses this effect is demonstrated.