Aotfs as Atomic Spectrometers: Basic Characteristics

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Abstract
An electronic spectrometer based on an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is presented. These devices are electronically tunable, narrow-band light filters with no moving parts. The wavelength range from 350 to 600 nm can be covered with a single device, the entire spectrum is scanned in less than 1 s, and any wavelength can be randomly accessed in 0.1 ms. The resolution [full width at half-height (FWHH)] was determined to be 0.22 nm at 361 nm, and the standard deviation of peak position was usually less than 0.03 nm. Under software control, the AOTF can be stationary on a line, peak-hop between any 20 different lines, hop between 20 regions of any size, scan a spectrum, or operate as a wavelength modulation spectrometer. Operation of the spectrometer is illustrated by using hollow cathode and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission sources.