ACOUSTO-OPTIC RF SPECTRUM ANALYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

An acousto-optic RF spectrum analysis method and apparatus is disclosed wherein radio frequency energy to be spectrum analyzed is employed to excite an acoustic wave in an optically anisotropic medium. A linearly polarized white light beam is collinearly diffracted on the acoustic wave in the anisotropic medium to diffract light of the first polarization and of a frequency related to the frequency of the acoustic wave into light of the second polarization. The diffracted output light is then analyzed to separate light of the first polarization from light of the second polarization. The separated light is spectrum analyzed to obtain a spectrum corresponding to the spectrum of the radio frequency energy to be analyzed.