Noncollinear Acousto-optic Tunable Filter Research Articles

Analysis of Phase Mismatch for Mercurous Bromide-Based Non-Collinear AOTF Design in Spectral Imaging Applications.

The spectral and spatial characteristics of Acousto-Optic Tunable Filters (AOTFs), such as a tuning curve, spectral resolution, angular aperture, and diffraction efficiency, are determined by the device's acousto-optic crystal configuration and piezoelectric transducer. For high-throughput spectral imaging applications, it is essential to enlarge the spectral bandwidth and angular aperture during the design phase of AOTFs. Thus, phase mismatch due to incident angle or wavelength was studied analytically using phase diagrams in this paper. Additionally, a performance parameter analysis model was established based on the use of mercurous bromide crystals for large angular aperture AOTF device design, and the impact of crystal and transducer design parameters on the spectral bandwidth and angular aperture was evaluated. This also experimentally validates the diffraction capability of AOTFs made from mercurous bromide crystal, which possess a broad spectral transmission ability ranging from visible to long-wave infrared.

Accurate design of a TeO2 noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter with refractive index correction.

The refractive index is a key factor in the design and analysis of noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) devices. While previous studies have corrected and analyzed the effects of anisotropic birefringence and the rotatory property, they still rely on paraxial and elliptical approximations, which can introduce non-negligible errors (0.5° or more) into the geometric parameters of TeO2 noncollinear AOTF devices. In this paper, we address these approximations and their effects through refractive index correction. This fundamental theoretical research has significant implications for the design and application of noncollinear AOTF devices.

Optimization of noncollinear AOTF design for laser beam shaping.

Optimization of a wide-angle paratellurite acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is performed for applications in laser beam shaping systems. The AOTF configuration with annular transfer function is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the optimal AOTF design for single-frequency operation as a narrow-band spatial frequency filter is obtained at acoustic propagation angle of 5.6° relative to the [110] axis. The optimal design for maximization of AOTF resolution in multifrequency laser beam shaping operation mode is obtained at acoustic propagation angle of 13.8°.

Non-radio-frequency signal tuned acousto-optic tunable filter.

As for the common acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF), the optical wavelength is directly tuned by the frequency of the applied radio frequency (RF) signal. The working wavelength range of the RF controlled AOTF could be limited by the performance of the RF source, especially in the high frequency area. We have proposed a special noncollinear AOTF system, in which the central optical wavelength could be tuned continually by rotating the AOTF, rather than changing its RF. This arrangement is confirmed to be effective to broaden the work wavelength range of a traditional RF based AOTF with the high spectral resolution. Particularly, it is welcomed to the circumstance for the flexible spectral bandwidth. This work has presented not only an original way to tune the wavelength of the filtered optical signal but also a powerful supplement of the RF controlled AOTF. It can lead to a wider applications of a noncollinear AOTF in the field of spectral analysis, hyperspectral imaging, and etc.

The visible to the near infrared narrow band acousto-optic tunable filter and the hyperspectral microscopic imaging on biomedicine study

Based on the parallel tangents momentum-matching condition, a narrow band noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) using a single TeO2 crystal is designed with the consideration of the birefringence and the rotatory property of the material. An effective setup is established to evaluate the performance of the designed AOTF. The experimental observed spectrum pattern of the diffracted light is nearly the same with the theoretical result. The measured tuning relationship between the diffracted central optical wavelength and acoustic frequency is in accordance with the theoretical prospect. The optical bandwidth of the diffracted light is as narrow as 1.88 nm when the central wavelength is 556.75 nm. The high spectral resolution is significant in practical applications of imaging AOTF. Additionally, the AOTF based hyperspectral microscopic imaging system is established. The stability and the image resolution of the designed narrow band AOTF are satisfying. Finally, the study of the biologic samples indicates the feasibility of our system on biomedicine.

Spectral characterization in deep UV of an improved imaging KDP acousto-optic tunable filter

Recently, we developed a number of high quality noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) cells in different birefringent materials with UV imaging capability. Cells based on a single crystal of KDP (potassium dihydrophosphate) had the best transmission efficiency and the optical throughput needed to acquire high quality spectral images at wavelengths above 220 nm. One of the main limitations of these imaging filters was their small angular aperture in air, limited to about 1.0°. In this paper, we describe an improved imaging KDP AOTF operating from the deep UV to the visible region of the spectrum. The linear and angular apertures of the new filter are 10 × 10 mm2 and 1.8°, respectively. The spectral tuning range is 205–430 nm with a 60 cm−1 spectral resolution. We describe the filter and present experimental results on imaging using both a broadband source and a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the UV, and include the measured spectra of these LEDs obtained with a collinear SiO2 filter-based spectrometer operating above 255 nm.

The narrow band AOTF based hyperspectral microscopic imaging on the rat skin stratum configuration

A noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) was designed with a comprehensive treatment of the properties of TeO2 as an acoustooptic (A-O) material. The results of optical testing validated that it predicted the performance of the designed AOTF. The bandwidth of the AOTF was very narrow in the visible light range. The high spectral resolution of AOTF was useful in practical applications to the hyperspectral imaging. The experimentally observed spectral pattern of the diffracted light was nearly the same as the theoretical result. The measured tuning relationship between the diffracted central optical wavelength and acoustic frequency was in accordance with the theoretical prediction. It demonstrates the accuracy of our design theory. Furthermore, by selecting the AOTF as the spectroscopic element, a hyperspectral microscopic imaging system was designed. The hyperspectral microscopic images of the rat skin tissue under the different optical center wavelength were acquired. The experimental results indicated that the imaging performance was satisfactory. The stratums of the rat skin can be clearly distinguished. The inner details of the epidermis and the corium can be shown on the hyperspectral microscopic images. Some differences also can be found by the comparison of the hyperspectal images under the different optical wavelengths. The study indicated the applicability and the advantage of our system on biomedicine area.

Design and analysis of a novel noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter

The design of a noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is commonly based on parallel tangent momentum-matching condition. Previous studies have either moving parts or modulation. These approaches would obviously decrease the accuracy of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) since it will be influenced by vibration or by an extended measurement time. In this paper, we introduce a novel noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter (DOAP). It is completely characterized by a wavelength-dependent 4×4 matrix that can be determined directly by calibration. The instrument has neither moving parts nor modulation. Besides, this system can acquire the image, spectral and polarization information of an object simultaneously.

Analysis of the Spectral Resolution of a TeO2 based Noncollinear Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter

The spectral resolution is a main index of evaluating the performance of the designed acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). In this letter, an accurate expression of the spectral resolution is presented by considering both the birefringence and the rotatory property of TeO2 crystal. The deduced expression is significant in improving the accuracy of the design of an AOTF and pushing the development of the high-performance AOTF.

Spectral resolution enhancement of acousto-optic tunable filter by double-filtering

The development of the large angular aperture noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is based on the parallel tangents momentum-matching condition. In this letter, we have introduced a special double-filtering method that leads to an enhancement of the spectral resolution. And the birefringence together with the rotatory property of the interaction material has been considered to ensure the accuracy of designing an AOTF. The principle and availability of double-filtering are discussed in detail. It is confirmed that double-filtering method is effective to enhance the spectral resolution on the condition of keeping the quality of imaging, which is significant in practical applications of imaging AOTF.

HYPERSPECTRAL AND POLARIZATION IMAGING WITH DOUBLE-TRANSDUCER AOTFS FOR WIDER SPECTRAL COVERAGE

We have developed a number of programmable hyperspectral imagers operating from the ultraviolet to the longwave infrared using an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) in conjunction with a suitable camera. Each of these AOTFs is fabricated with a single transducer to operate over only one octave in wavelength. Recently, we have developed two separate tellurium dioxide ( TeO 2) noncollinear AOTF cells that operate over two octave range. Each cell has an aperture of 1.5 × 1.5 cm 2 with a field-of-view of 4.2°, and two thin-plate lithium niobate transducers are bonded on it. The tuning range of the first cell is 0.43–2.1 μm , and 0.69–4.0 μm for the second cell. We have used each of these cells to carry out spectral imaging experiments with CCD, InGaAs , and InSb cameras to cover the spectral region from the visible to the midwave infrared. We image the two orthogonally polarized diffracted beams to get spectropolarimetric information from the scene, as well as a broadband image by using one of the undiffracted beams. In this paper, we discuss the two AOTF cells, the imaging experiments, and present the results obtained.

Design and analysis of a noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter

The design of the noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is commonly based on the parallel tangents momentum-matching condition. Previous studies either have used an approximation of the birefringence of the interaction material or have ignored the rotatory property of TeO(2). These approaches would obviously decrease the accuracy of designing an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). We introduce an analysis method of calculating the optimum incident optical angle. Besides, an appropriate optical wedge on the output optical facet is designed to reduce the wavelength dependence of the diffracted beam angle, which is very significant in practical applications of AOTF.

Analysis of the optimum optical incident angle for an imaging acousto-optic tunable filter

The selection of the incident polar angle is very important in the entire design of the noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). The authors discussed how the factors, including tuning range of wavelength, the acoustic frequency, the acousto-optic figure of merit, the spectral bandwidth, the spread of filtered beam and the wavelength dependence, influence the selection of the optimum incident polar angle. By an accurate theoretical analysis, a method of selecting the optimum incident angle was presented. The analysis was significant for improving the performance of the imaging AOTF from the visible to the infrared.

근적외선 분광 분석을 위한 음향광학변조필터의 설계 및 교정

In this paper, we proposed the design and calibration method for the near infrared Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF). The theory and design principles of AOTF for the visible light are well known since I.C.Chang has developed the parallel tangent condition for the non-collinear AOTF. Deflection angle, frequency-wavelength relation, spectral resolution, etc. were calculated based on the theory of AOTF. From this result, important parameters - incident and acoustic angle - to fabricate AOTF were decided. We measured the spectral resolution and the relation between electrical driving frequency and the Optical wavelength of diffracted light to calibrate the near infrared AOTF. About 40 ∼ 80 MHz electrical frequency was required to get 1200 ∼ 2200 nm near infrared light. Spectral resolution was less than 10 nm in the near infrared region.

Ultraviolet-visible imaging acousto-optic tunable filters in KDP.

There is a need to develop large-aperture acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) in the UV region for applications in astronomy, environmental sciences, biology, etc. We have developed a high-quality noncollinear AOTF cell that uses a single crystal of KDP that has nearly a four times larger acousto-optic figure of merit, M2, than quartz. The linear and angular apertures of this cell are 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm and 1.2 degrees, respectively. The spectral range is 220-480 nm, with 160-cm(-1) spectral resolution and high transmission in the UV. We present an analysis of the design and describe the characterization results.

Spectral characterization of acousto-optic filters used in imaging spectroscopy.

The purpose of this investigation is to improve the study of the characteristics of noncollinear acoustooptic tunable filters (AOTFs) used in imaging spectroscopy. Three filters were characterized and the results compared with tuning models to verify that device operation can be reliably predicted in advance. All these devices use tellurium dioxide as the interaction medium and have large geometric apertures for spectroscopic imaging applications in the spectral range 0.5-3.5 microm. The device characteristics that we studied were compared with the results of AOTF models, and the spectral and angular dependence of acoustic frequency and bandpass width for both output polarization states were confirmed by measurements. One of the AOTFs was used as a dispersive element coupled to external imaging optics. We summarize measurements of the basic spectral and imaging characteristics in this configuration.

Angular and power characteristics of noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filters

The angular and the power characteristics of noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filters are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The dependencies of the acoustic wave frequency, the bandpass width and the diffraction efficiency of the filter are studied as functions of the angle of incidence of the optical wave and of the acoustic signal power density. These dependencies are illustrated and tested on the basis of a realized such a filter based on tellurium dioxide (TeO 2). A good agreement of theory and experiment is demonstrated, which indicates that the approach used can be effective in designing such devices.

Spectral characteristics of non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filters

The bandpass width and the diffraction efficiency of a non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter are considered as functions of the optical wavelength for fixed values of the direction of propagation of the optic wave, the length of the acousto-optic interaction and the power density of the controlling RF-signal. A comparison between the calculated and the experimentally measured spectral dependencies is discussed and illustrated from the viewpoint of practical application for a TeO 2 filter. It is shown that in the approximation used, satisfactory agreement can be achieved between the experimental and calculated dependencies.

Design of the bandpass width, the spectral resolution and the diffraction efficiency of a non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter of TeO 2

The spectral dependencies of the bandpass width, the spectral resolution and the diffraction efficiency of a non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter of TeO 2 are designed by the method proposed by Chang. The effect of four parameters (the directions of propagation of the acoustic and optic waves, the length of acousto-optic interaction and the power density of the controlling RF-signal) on the filter spectral characteristics is discussed and illustrated from the point of view of practical application. An example of filter design using these dependencies is presented.

Acousto-optic imaging spectropolarimetry for remote sensing

We review the operating principles of noncollinear acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTF's), emphasizing the use of two orthogonally polarized beams for narrow-band imaging. Spectral characterization and spectral broadening measurements of commercially available AOTF's agree with theoretical predictions and reveal difficulties associated with imaging noncollimated light. An AOTF imaging spectropolarimeter for ground-based astronomy that uses CCD's has been constructed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. It uses a TeO(2) noncollinear AOTF and a simple optical relay assembly to produce side-by-side orthogonally polarized spectral images. We summarize the instrument design and initial performance tests. We include sample spectral images acquired at the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory.