A High-Performance Spectrometer with Two Spectral Channels Sharing the Same BSI-CMOS Detector.

Area of Science:

• Optical spectroscopy
• Spectrometer design
• Photonics instrumentation

Background:

• Optical spectrometers are crucial tools in scientific research.
• Traditional spectrometers often rely on mechanical components, limiting speed and increasing complexity.
• There is a need for compact, cost-effective spectrometers with high performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel two-channel optical spectrometer.
• To achieve high spectral resolution and fast acquisition speeds.
• To demonstrate a compact and cost-effective spectrometer design.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 8 integrated sub-gratings for spectral diffraction and imaging.
• Employed a two-dimensional backside-illuminated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (BSI-CMOS) detector.
• Achieved a spectral resolution better than 0.1 nm/pixel over 200-950 nm.

Main Results:

• Achieved a spectral resolution of <0.1 nm/pixel in the 200-950 nm range.
• Demonstrated an acquisition speed of ~25 spectra per second.
• Reached a high k-factor of 7500, indicating excellent spectral performance.
• The BSI-CMOS detector exhibited a peak quantum efficiency of ~90% at 400 nm.

Conclusions:

• The developed spectrometer offers superior performance in a compact and cost-effective package.
• The design enables simultaneous measurement of multiple spectra under identical conditions, minimizing environmental variability.
• Validated performance using an Hg-Ar lamp, confirming its practical utility.