Fabrication and characterization of mercurous chloride acoustooptic devices

Mercurous chloride crystals, recently synthesized in large good optical quality boules by vapor deposition, have been characterized as to their unusual acoustooptic properties. This material offers the potential for superior performance Bragg cells for signal processing and tunable filters. We have developed fabrication techniques to overcome severe problems associated with its high chemical reactivity, designed transducer structures, and built and tested a number of devices.