Array Interferometer for Real-Time IR Sensing

Current FT-IR spectrometers are based upon the original Michelson design containing a moving mirror, which was first proposed nearly 70 years ago. While spectrometers based on this principle have been very useful, development of a new generation of spectrometers with no moving parts would bring major advances for numerous sensing applications. It could enable real-time measurement, reduced positional uncertainties, reduced spectrometer size, and extended wavelength range. This Phase I project will experimentally test the feasibility of an entirely new type of FT-IR spectrometer. The optical arrangement is designed to produce and detect interferograms in the spatial domain using passive components and a 2-dimensional detector array. Particularly promising features of this array interferometer include high light throughput, a full spectrum time response limited only by the detector, and potential for miniaturization. In Phase I, a laboratory-scale interferometer will be built and tested. The experimental effort will provide information on the apparatus function, resolving power, sensitivity and optical abberations. If the effort is successful, a complete spectrometer system will be developed and commercialized in Phases II and III.