In-line interferometric time-integrating acousto-optic correlator

A novel, efficient, stable, in-line interferometric, two Bragg cell, acousto-optic architecture is introduced for signal correlation and spectrum analysis. The processor employs an image-inversion technique to produce a correlation output that does not have to be generated on a fast spatial carrier, thus reducing the burden on the required space-bandwidth product on the output time-integrating detector array. The system is particularly suited for wide-instantaneous-bandwidth signal processing and is demonstrated as an autocorrelator for dc-to-10-MHz AM signals on a 100-MHz carrier. A fixed-spatial-carrier outputbased correlator and spectrum-analyzer architecture that is particularly limited in the wideband mode is demonstrated for comparison purposes with the proposed flexible-spatial-carrier-design-based in-line acousto-optic correlator.