Design parameters for the acousto-optic programmable filter used in femtosecond laser pulse manipulation

Summary form only given. The acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) recently proposed creates an optical output that is the convolution between an optical input and a time scaled electrical signal. The scaling factor is the ratio of the speed of sound to the speed of light times the index difference between the ordinary and extraordinary wave in the birefringent crystal used. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the technical basic relations needed by an engineer to conceive a AOPDF laser system able to manipulate ultrashort light pulses both in amplitude and phase.