Hyperspectral optical system with spatial separation of images possessing different polarization direction

The report discusses operation principles of a hyperspectral imaging acousto-optic system intended to process optical images in visible and infrared regions of spectrum. A diffraction grating induced by ultrasound in a birefringent crystal selects color of transmitted light and also controls polarization of the incident radiation. In the developed system, arbitrary polarized divergent or convergent optical beam is split at output of the system into two orthogonally polarized optical beams that are simultaneously scattered into symmetrically situated +1 and -1 diffraction orders. If the incident beam forms an arbitrary polarized non-monochromatic optical image then as much as two images are observed at output of the device. Application of two CCD cameras provides registration in real time of the filtered images possessing orthogonal polarizations. Optical wavelengths selected by the filter are tuned by means of driving ultrasonic frequency. The transmission coefficient of the acousto-optic device is regulated by magnitude of the driving RF power.