An acoustooptic filter 1 having an optical waveguide 3 disposed on an
upper surface 2a of an acoustooptic substrate 2, an interdigital
electrode 4 which excites a surface wave disposed on the acoustooptic
substrate 2, a surface wave waveguide for the surface wave excited by the
interdigital electrode 4 extends in substantially the same direction as
the optical waveguide, and a mode of the light guided to the optical
waveguide 3 is converted by the surface wave. The acoustooptic filter 1
includes a thin-film ridge 5 as a phase match condition changer that
changes a phase match condition at a mutual action area by 0.235% or more
from a state in which phases are matched, the mutual action area being an
area where the surface acoustic wave and the light guided to the optical
waveguide 3 act upon each other.