Acousto-optic filters possess some attractive properties for applications to astronomical spectrophotometry. Tuning over a wide spectral range is achieved by variation of the frequency of an acoustic wave propagated through the crystal which causes diffraction of the incident collimated light in a narrow range of wavelengths. Spectral scanning either continuously through the spectrum or by switching to a programmed set of wavelengths can be accomplished easily and rapidly since there are no moving parts. Spectral performance characteristics of a commercially available filter are given and an outline is presented of a prototype astronomical spectrometer which is controlled by a microcomputer.

Date Published: 16 June 1983
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 0369, Max Born Centenary Conf, (16 June 1983); doi: 10.1117/12.934385

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0369:
Max Born Centenary Conf
M. John Colles; D. William Swift, Editor(s)