Miniature High Resolution Visible/UV Spectrometers

Two miniature, high resolution imaging spectrometers are proposed for the remote detection of chemical vapors in the 200 - 800 nm band. One spectrometer uses a diffraction grating to generate a spectrum with a resolution of 0.39 nm. It can achieve asignal to noise ratio (SNR) that varies between 400 and 1000 in 20 msec. The volume of the spectrometer is expected to be less than 8.55 cubic inches. The other spectrometer is a spatial-heterodyne Fourier transform spectrometer that can generate aspectrum with a resolution of 2.5 cm^-1 (0.01 nm at 200 nm and 0.16 nm at 800 nm). The FT spectrometer is field widened, so it can open its entrance slit to increase its throughput. It can achieve a SNR that varies between 100 and 1300 in 20 msec. Thevolume of the FT spectrometer is expected to be less than 4.86 cubic inches. This research will provide the Air Force with two low cost, miniature chemical detection imaging spectrometers that can be deployed on a variety of platforms. The spectrometerscan also be used by city governments to monitor air pollution while simultaneously monitoring the possible release of chemical agents in public spaces. It can be used by the medical industry to detect cancer or to detect arterial soft-plaque buildup.