Acousto-optics with surface acoustic waves devices and applications

The diffraction of light by bulk and surface acoustic waves is briefly discussed, and the acousto-optical efficiency for the basic interaction geometries is analysed. Applications of light SAW interaction to acoustic field diagnosis, image scanning, signal processing, spectrum analysis, are reviewed as they were developed at the Institute of Acoustics 'O. M. Corbino'. © 1980 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.