Optimization of the total bandwidth of the modulator/deflector of an acousto‐optical spectrum analyzer used in radio‐astronomy applications

The acoustic and the Bragg bandwidths can be optimized by using a modified mass electrode for the TeO 2 crystal and a quasitangent interaction instead of the classical tangent interaction, respectively. These optimizations lead to a 40% increase of the total bandwidth of the modulator/deflector. Therefore, a higher value of the ‐3‐dB‐bandwidth‐spectral‐resolution ratio N is obtained. This allows us to study both wider spectral lines (up to 90 MHz) and lines separated no more than 90 MHz, which means sauing costly real observation time. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.