The research on characteristics of acousto-optic tunable filter by space radiation experiment

Acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is an electronically tunable optical filter which can make optical beams passing through the acousto-optic (AO) crystal manipulated by suitable frequency generated acoustic waves. In view of the advantages of AO devices such as compact, solid-state, easily integrated, extremely fast response and tunable wavelength output, the AOTF spectrometers have been widely applied in space-based instruments. Considering the operation of the devices in the naturally occurring space radiation environment is one of the major space qualification issues nowadays, the research on characteristics of AOTF in the space radiation environment is significant. Focusing on the space radiation effects on AOTF, especially for radiation environment that lunar exploration infrared imaging spectrometer based on AOTF needs to carry on, the space radiation characteristics of AOTF has been studied through the radiation experiments and the AOTF performance tests. In this paper, some details of AOTF performance tests like detecting principle, method, equipments and performance indicators are introduced firstly. Then the radiation experiment of AOTF is described, while the measured data such as optic transmission, the relationship between diffraction efficiency and driving power, diffraction efficiency and driving frequency, diffraction wavelength and driving frequency relations before and after experiment are analyzed comparatively next. Finally the experimental results are presented and evaluated.