Fourier transform ultraviolet-visible spectrometer based on a beam-folding technique

Area of Science:

• Optical Interferometry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS) require precise position tracking for interferogram sampling.
• Broad spectral range measurements (UV to IR) are crucial in various scientific applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel beam-folding technique for optical interferometry.
• To present this technique as a low-cost position-tracking method for FTS.
• To demonstrate its applicability for broad spectral range measurements.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a beam-folding technique with a potentially large number of folds.
• Development of a UV-visible Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS).
• Utilizing off-the-shelf optical components for wavelength coverage from 350 nm to 1 µm.

Main Results:

• The beam-folding technique enables a simple position-tracking algorithm for interferogram sampling.
• A UV-visible FTS was successfully developed.
• Preliminary results indicate a spectral resolution of approximately 4 cm⁻¹ was achieved, even with a basic translation stage.

Conclusions:

• The reported beam-folding technique is effective for low-cost position tracking in FTS.
• This method facilitates broad spectral range measurements with a simplified algorithm.
• The developed UV-visible FTS demonstrates promising resolution capabilities.