A Stationary Spectrometer for Determining Flame Structure

OPTRA is proposing the development of an all-reflecting stationary Fourier transform spectrometer, based on the use of Fresnel mirrors and a linear uncooled amorphous silicon microbolometer array to produce spectra in the 1 to 5 micron region with resolution of 5nm. Concentration, temperature and soot volume fraction will be derived from the measured emission spectra of a flame. An amorphous silicon (a-Si) microbolometer detector array will be custom designed and fabricated as a primary goal of the Phase 1 effort. The uncooled microbolometer measures radiant power by measuring a temperature change induced by the absorption of incident infrared radiation. This spectrally independent intensity measurement provides an attractive alternative to spectrally limited hybrid detector arrays and may well provide the critical bridge into the next generation of high sensitivity spectrometers capable of measuring spectra over the entire IR range.