New Class of Multi-Channel Spectrometers Based on Diffraction Grating Array

Remote chemical analysis via spectroscopy is an important tool in the arsenal or Earth and Planetary Science. Grating technology, which is the centerpiece of most modern spectroscopy systems, has not change significantly in the last 60 years since introduction of holographic gratings. Recently LightSmyth introduced new technology for design and fabrication of diffraction grating elements based on projection photolithography using state-of-the-art semiconductor industry tools. This opened a pathway for very powerful grating elements enabling new class of spectroscopy instruments. LightSmyth Technologies proposes to utilize its recently introduced innovative Diffraction Grating Array to demonstrate robust ultra-compact multi-channel spectrometer with athermal stress-proof self-calibration suitable for deployment at the orbit as well as UAV, USV and UUV platforms. The main advantages of the instrument is up to 100 times improvement in diffraction efficiency, low mass, small footprint, absence of moving parts, robustness, wide spectral range coverage with high resolution and athermal self-calibration for accurate determination of absolute spectrum wavelengths.