Spectrometers

No moving parts – appropriate for space.

There is a great need for spectrometer instruments suitable for use on small aircraft or space based platforms. Conventional approaches to remote sensing include grating-based spectrometers, filter-based spectrometers, Fourier transform imaging spectrometers, slit spectrometers, and whisk-broom scanners. Conventional spectrometers based on diffractive gratings are often inappropriate in imaging applications where the spatial characteristics as well as the spectral characteristics are desired.

Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS) have been successfully used as imaging spectrometers, but are difficult to place in remote environments. These instruments obtain their optical delay by physically translating one or more optical components. The mechanical translation mechanism usually dominates the risk, cost, power consumption, and performance of such instruments.

Research at Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) focuses on replacing the physical translation arm with a solid-state liquid crystal delay line. A high-resolution FTS instrument without moving parts represents a substantial improvement in reliability, mission duration, and performance. It also promises to be much smaller in size and mass.