An AOTF is a solid-state, electronically tunable bandpass filter, which uses the acousto-optic interaction inside an anisotropic medium. These filters can be used with multi-lines sources (mixed gas lasers, Laser diodes...) or with broadband light sources (Xenon,Halogen lamps...). They allow to select and transmit a single wavelength from the incoming light.

The main advantage of this technique is the total absence of any moving part which leads to a reliable, stable and fast technique for wavelength tuning. The RF frequency applied on the AOTF transducer controls the transmitted (filtered in 1st order) wavelength.A complete spectrum analysis can be done by varying the frequencycorresponding to the wavelength range.The RF amplitude level applied on the transducer allows to adjust the transmitted (filtered) light intensity level. This is a unique feature that can provide the AOTF. It is fast (several μs), accurate and procures high extinction ratio.

AA proposes a whole range of AOTFs based on TeO2 with shear acoustic mode. The filters are designed so as to get the best performances in each wavelength range and to satisfy most of the applications: resolution down to 1 nm, Field of view up to 20 degrees, apertures up to 10 mm...In most cases, the filtered output from the tunable filter is made collinear
to make easier the use of these devices, and to satisfy fiber pigtailing conditions. A random input polarization will be separated into two orthogonal polarizations (order -1 and +1).