Multi-product acousto-optic time integrating correlator

摘要

A device for processing signals to obtain a multi-product, time integrated, correlated output signal. A laser light beam is expanded and shaped into a sheet beam which is directed across the surface of an acousto-optic medium. Four acoustic transducers are disposed on the acousto-optic medium, two at each end of the medium. Each acoustic transducer is supplied with a signal to be propagated on the surface of the acousto-optic medium. The first two signals diffract the sheet beam to produce a first, product diffracted beam of light containing the product of the first two signals. The second two signals diffract the sheet beam to produce a second product diffracted beam of light containing the product of the second two signals. The two product diffracted beams are rotated so that they are orthogonal to each other, and then combined. A time integrating photodetecting means is disposed in the path of the combined beam for generating a multi-product, time integrated, correlated output signal.