Short-pulse-probe SAW profilometry of integrated acousto-optic filters

In this paper, we systematically compare the two methods of profilometry for two generations of integrated acousto-optical tunable filters (AOTFs), one with uniform AOTF-the classical geometry, and the sinusoidally-weighted SAW-coupler-based AOTF which is the archetypal sidelobe-suppressed AOTF design. This work is the first comparison of these profilometry techniques, and further represents the first use of the simple technique of short pulse profilometry to examine the complex SAW waveguide geometries needed for passband control. Devices operating in the 1550 nm optical communication band have been evaluated.