Invention:
This invention is a novel miniaturized spatial heterodyne interferometers (SHI) design that overcomes problems with thermal effects and also maintains low cost for the infrared regime. This system is a more robust SHI that can be implemented in many wavelength regimes without substantial change to the materials used. The design also has multiple implementations that allow further tradeoffs between size and costs for improved adaptability.
Background:
For applications where high-resolution spectral analysis is required, spatial heterodyne interferometers (SHIs) can be used for obtaining near sub-angstrom spectral resolution. This capability finds use in fields such as atmospheric sciences and biomedical imaging. A basic implementation of an SHI setup looks similar to a Michelson interferometer, but to make these instruments more amenable for use in compact devices, miniaturization is required. Prior attempts to miniaturize the Michelson SHI design have led to problems with thermal effects as well as increased cost, especially for infrared systems, which require advanced optical materials for directing the light. A departure from the standard Michelson SHI implementation has led to less dependence on wavelength regime as well as cheaper costs for miniaturization.
Applications:
- Atmospheric sciences
- Biomedical imaging
- Remote chemical analysis
Advantages:
- Improved compactness and ruggedness
- Overcomes the thermal effects of previous SHI designs
- Multiple implementations for system adaptability
