Ultraviolet Acousto-Optic Devices Using Barium Borate (BBO)

We will develop novel acousto-optic devices for use in the UV using the new material Barium Borate (BBO) which not only has the required UV transparency, but a unique combination of acoustic and optical properties. The capabilities provided by these new UV AO devices are ideally suited for optical addressing arrays of trapped ions with focused spots from appropriately tuned UV and visible lasers to program initial states and implement 2-qubit gates. BBO, which has received extensive development as a nonlinear optical material, has just recently emerged as a candidate AO material, and appears to be an ideal choice for addressing arrays of trapped ions since it will allow high efficiency AO modulators and deflectors throughout the UV, visible, and IR spectra. To achieve this goal we will first make more precise acoustic and acousto-optic measurement of the tensor properties of a-BBO and b-BBO than have been previously reported. Then we will design and fabricate the first high efficiency BBO modulators and deflectors optimized for QIP application in the UV. Their performance will be measured and the designs verified, and then improved devices will be designed and analyzed in preparation for Phase II.