The phenomenon of light diffraction by a cylindrical ultrasonic wave has been investigated. The diffraction was applied in a new type of acousto-optic modulator used for laser mode locking. The paper describes the modulator and presents results on mode locking of argon ion laser. The mode locking was obtained by means of a cylindrical acoustic wave launched in water at the frequencies of ultrasound 33-34 MHz. A standing wave regime of operation of the modulator resulted in a reliable generation of laser pulses with the duration 720 ps.
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