A method for driving an acousto-optic element with an acousto-optic crystal and a piezoelectric transducer for setting the acousto-optic crystal in mechanical vibration includes driving the piezoelectric transducer with a drive signal with at least one drive frequency. The at least one drive frequency in alternation takes on a plurality of different values around a center frequency during a passage of a mechanical vibrational wave through the acousto-optic crystal, such that a grating that is produced owing to density fluctuations in the acousto-optic crystal exhibits different grating spacings at the same time.