Conceptual design of a rotating parallel-mirror-pair interferometer

In the field of Fourier-transform spectroscopy, tilt and shearing problems caused by the moving components in a translational type of spectrometer reduce the quality of the interferogram dramatically. While, the spectrometer based on rotational motion can avoid these problems. In this paper, a novel rotational type of interferometer, called rotating parallel-mirror-pair interferometer (RPMPI), is presented. Its principle and properties are studied. This interferometer consists of one beam splitter, two fixed flat mirrors, and one rotating wedged parallel-mirror-pair (PMP). The optical path difference (OPD) is obtained by the rotational motion of the PMP. Factors that affect the maximum OPD include the wedged angle of the rotating PMP, the distance between the two parallel mirrors, the direction of the incident ray, and the range of rotating angle. This interferometer can operate either in swinging mode or continuous rotary mode depending on the range of the rotating angle. In swinging mode, the OPD function is linear. In continuous rotary mode, the sampling efficiency is higher and it can operate as an ultra rapid scanning interferometer.