Single-volume dual-channel acousto-optical tunable filter.

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel approach to spectral stereoscopic imaging. It is based on simultaneous spectral filtration of two light beams with a tunable acousto-optical filter (AOTF) of original design. It does not require large crystals and complicated optical relay systems, because two beams diffract in the same volume of the crystal medium but at different angles. We show that this geometry can be composed of a common-type AO cell and two triangular prisms of the same material. We derive equations, which specify the prism angles ensuring the necessary orientation of beams trajectories inside the crystal medium as well as parallel propagation of input and output beams. Some angles were additionally optimized for aberrations minimization by means of ray-tracing simulation. Experimental testing demonstrates rather high quality of spectral images, which is necessary for stereoscopic reconstruction procedure. The proposed approach makes possible development of spectral stereo-imaging components based on different types of previously developed AOTFs.