An interdisciplinary research team has developed an innovative method of deflecting laser beams using sound waves. By modulating the air in the path of the laser using dense and less dense areas created with special loudspeakers, the researchers were able to create an optical grating that changed the direction of the laser light. The technique preserves the quality of the laser beam and has promising applications in high-performance optics, where traditional optical elements are easily damaged by strong laser beams. The researchers plan to explore using other gases to tap into different optical properties and wavelengths. Overall, this approach represents a new direction in modern optics. The researchers achieved a 50% efficiency in redirecting the laser beam in the lab, with higher efficiencies predicted in the future.
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