Acousto-optic sensing and imaging for biomedical applications

Recent advances in acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) technology and signal processing algorithms implemented therein offer the potential for designing instruments with computer-controlled rapid, frequency-agile tuning over a large optical wavelength range. The authors are testing a number of AOTF spectrometers and cells in their laboratory for application in remote sensing and imaging of chemical and biological agents using absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopic techniques. In particular, an imaging experiment is described that is being set up in the authors' laboratory using one of the two AOTF cells: a low-resolution visible cell (400-900 nm) and a high resolution UV-visible cell (255-800 nm). The details of this experiment and the AOTF cells are presented.