Transmission characteristics of acousto-optic filter using sectioned transducer

The paper examines operation of a tunable acousto-optic filter applying a sectioned piezoelectric transducer. The analysis was carried out for a tellurium dioxide cell having 1.4-cm long transducer divided into 7 identical sections connected in series. Each section generated acoustic waves with a time delay relatively to adjacent sections. The time delay caused electric and acoustic phase shifts as well as inclination of a resulting acoustic wave front in the crystal. We showed that the inclination of the acoustic front influenced on shape of the filter transmission function causing asymmetry of side lobes. Investigation of the filter was carried out at the driving acoustic frequencies 100–240 MHz. The measurement proved that the electric phase shifts between the adjacent sections increased with the frequency up to 30°. Ratio of intensities of the first two side lobes in the transmission function was varying with the frequency from 0.9 to 0.5. Based on the carried out analysis, we discussed a prototype device using the acoustic beam steering effect. The device applied two sets of transducer sections that simultaneously generated two acoustic wave fronts tilted with respect to each other.