Compact static birefringent spectral range enhanced Fourier transform imaging spectrometer

A compact static birefringent spectral range enhanced Fourier transform imaging spectrometer (SEFTIS) is presented. The key component of the proposed SEFTIS is a new static dual-path birefringent interferometer formed by a polarizer, a Wollaston prism and a modified Glan-Taylor prism. Without any moving elements, it produces two independent interference patterns for two wavebands detections simultaneously, thereby providing at least twice the width of the original working spectral range. Compared with previous spectral range enhanced imaging spectrometers, the developed sensor highly reduces the complexity and alignment difficulty of the system. Theory and experimental prototype working in 400-1700 nm are described in detail.