Patent ID: 8228601

Claim:
An apparatus for imaging a surface, comprising: an acousto-optic (AO) system, comprising: an AO element, having a radiation input surface and a radiation output surface, which is configured to receive a series of radio-frequency (RF) pulses and a radiation input at the radiation input surface and to generate in response thereto traveling beams from the radiation output surface; a lens positioned to receive the traveling beams; and an inhomogeneous polarization generator, positioned at an exit pupil of the lens so that the AO system outputs traveling inhomogeneously polarized beams; objective optics which are configured to focus the inhomogeneously polarized beams onto the surface so as to form respective traveling spots thereon; collection optics, which are configured to collect scattered radiation from the traveling spots and to focus the scattered radiation to form respective image spots; and a detector which is arranged to receive the respective image spots and to generate a signal in response thereto.