An acousto-optic tunable filter (200) that includes a polarization beamsplitter (202), a multi-segment interaction region (180) and a polarization beam combiner (204) is described. The polarization beamsplitter (202) generates a first (116) and a second (114) polarized optical signal. The multi-segment optical interaction region (180) includes a first optical interaction region (102) and a first acoustic wave generator that generates acoustic waves in the first optical interaction region (102). The multi-segment optical interaction region (180) also includes a second optical interaction region (104) that is non-collinear relative to the first optical interaction region (102) and a second acoustic wave generator that generates acoustic waves in the second optical interaction region (104). Optical signals that are phase-matched to the acoustic waves are mode-converted in response to the acoustic waves. The acousto-optic tunable filter (200) also includes a polarization beam combiner (204) that generates both a mode-converted optical signal and a non-mode-converted optical signal.