ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTER

IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTERS (AOTF), WHICH ARE PROMISING FOR SPACE-BORNE OPTICAL SENSOR AND INSTRUMENT APPLICATIONS, IS THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT. THE FULL CAPABILITY OF THE AOTF IS LIMITED BY CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES OF THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. THE PHASE I EFFORT FOR OVERCOMING THESE DEFICIENCIES INCLUDES: THE IMPROVEMENTOF OUT-OF-BAND REJECTION TO 30DB BY INVESTIGATING THREE NOVEL APODIZATION TECHNIQUES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW, ULTRAVIOLET, AOTF MATERIALS THAT ARE AT LEAST TEN TIMES BETTER THAN CRYSTAL QUARTZ. APPLICATIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CONTROL AND MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION: FOR EXAMPLE, AS AN IN SITU, THIN- FILM MONITOR FOR DIELECTRIC CONTROL OR A RAPID-SCAN SPECTROMETER FOR CELL-BIOLOGY STUDIES.