Fourier Transform UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer

Title of project: Fourier Transform UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer
Cluster: Nuclear
Technology Tags or Keywords: spectrometer spectrophotometer material science
Title: Fourier Transform UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer
Summary: New FT spectrometer is capable to measure in wide spectral range
Technology Benefits : Wideband FT spectrometer replaces several analogues by covering its spectral ranges
Technology Applications : Material science, QA, transmission and reflection spectra measurements
Detailed Technology Description: Fourier transform spectrophotometer is based on a Michelson interferometer. Collimated beam of light falls onto the interferometer entrance. Then the beam is split by a beam splitter plate into two beams having approximately equal intensity. After being reflected from mirrors these beams interfere at the interferometer output. At least one mirror in FTS is movable. Special mirror movement control systems provide its periodic movement, moving speed being maintained constant for maximal possible part of the mirror’s path. The resulting interferogram that is registered with the photodetector includes all information about irradiation spectrum. Spectral resolution in this case is controlled by movable mirror path length, whereas spectral range is limited only with working range of the light source, the beam splitter, the mirrors and the photo detector.
It is worth noting that in order to provide spectral resolution of 10 cm-1 (being moderate for IR range, this value corresponds to more than dignified resolution of 0.1 nm in UV range) mirror’s movement is required as small as 1 mm. This movement can be done very quickly. Thus, high spectra acquiring rate is an obvious advantage of Fourier transform spectrophotometer. FTS design does not imply any slits, which might considerably blind the light beam; accordingly, these instruments are considered as light efficient. Scattered light does not participate in interference, therefore non it affects both the interferogram and the resulted spectrum. Also Fourier transform spectrophotometer does not have the problem, which is typical for grating instruments and related to the necessity of higher order suppression. An interferogram accumulation, on the contrary to a spectrum accumulation, does allow to expand dynamic range considerably.

International PCT Application number: PCT/RU2015/000255; PCT/RU2015/000405
Title of PCT application: 

Michelson interferometer with oscillating mirrors and Fourier spectrometer based thereon;
Improved accuracy interferometer with active damping of parasitic vibrations.

PCT application Date:

21.04.2015;
29.06.2015

PCT application description (abstract): The invention relates to optical instrument engineering and can be used in Fourier transform spectroscopy with extended spectral range. The summary of the solutions is to increase the number of oscillating the mirrors in the Michelson interferometer, which in particular can be used in a Fourier transform spectrometer, and each having the same frequency of mirror oscillation. Moreover, the oscillations phases can be offset to provide a maximum change in the path difference;
The invention relates to spectroscopy, and in particular to Fourier transform spectrometers interferometers.
The summary of the solutions consists in using electrodynamic head, in which the resonance frequency fr, causing parasitic vibrations, is effectively suppressed by using an active feedback system, due to a sufficient gap between the resonance frequency fr and the mirror oscillation frequency f.
The proposed interferometer with oscillating mirror which creates a parasitic vibration, solved the problem of increasing the accuracy of the measurement range.
The inventive interferometer and implemented on the basis of its Fourier transform spectrometer provide improved spectral resolution.
National application Number: 

RU2014115869;
RU2014125977

National application Date: 

21.04.2014;
27.06.2014

Patent Number: RU2572412
Patent Date: 09.12.2015

Organization/Company Name: Fourier Photonics LLC
Country: RU