Detection and Spectrometry of Faint Light

The aim of this book is to bridge the gap between the pure instrumental physicist and the user of detectors and spectrometers. The essential parameters describing the performance of these devices are identified and the designs of a wide variety of practical instruments are illustrated working on topical problems. The author has spent 14 years designing and applying spectrometers in the visible and near infra-red domains predominantly to investigate gaseous nebulae. Most recently he has designed for instance a large (15 x IS-in.) Ha interference filter for the SRC, 48-in. Schmidt camera, insect-eye Fabry-Perot spectrographs, image tube filter cameras, a SISAM monochromator, a three-beam Fabry-Perot monochromator (collaboratively) for the ISO-in. Anglo-Australian telescope and a two-etalon PEPSIOS type monochromator. Consequently emphasis in this book is placed on devices useful from the ultra-violet to the infra-red. Likewise many of the illustrations are drawn from astronomy. However most of the ideas that are presented invariably have applications in other branches of science and wavelength domains.

1. The Principles of Spectrometry.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2. Parameters which Define a Spectrometer.- 1.3. Instrumental Profile.- 1.4. Free Spectral Range.- 1.5. Maximum Wavelength Resolution.- 1.6. Brightness of a Source.- 1.7. Luminosity of a Spectrometer.- 1.8. Flux.- 1.9. Luminosity Resolution Product.- 1.10. Spectral Simultaneity Gain.- 1.11. Spatial Simultaneity Gain.- 1.12. Responsive Quantum Efficiency.- 1.13. A Factor of Merit for a Spectrometer.- 1.14. Combining a Spectrometer with a Telescope.- 2. The Quantum Detectors.- 2.1. Introduction.- 2.2. Performance.- 2.3. Responsive Quantum Efficiency and its Variations.- 2.4. Receiver Noise.- 2.5. Detective Quantum Efficiency.- 2.6. Multiplicity.- 2.7. Event Capacity.- 2.8. Linearity of Response.- 2.9. Dynamic Range.- 2.10. Linear Resolution.- 2.11. Operation.- 2.12. The Photographic Emulsion.- 2.13. The Photocathode.- 2.14. The Photomultiplier.- 2.15. The Electronic Image Tubes.- 2.16. Phosphor Output Tubes.- 2.17. Electronographic Tubes.- 2.18. Digital Image Tubes.- 3. The Prism Spectrometers.- 3.1. Introduction.- 3.2. Comparisons.- 3.3. Objective Prism Spectrographs.- 3.4. The Single-Slit, Single-Detector Prism Monochromator.- 4. Useful Diffraction Gratings.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Principles.- 4.3. Maxima.- 4.4. Blazing.- 4.5. Practical Plane Reflection Gratings.- 4.6. Ebert Configuration.- 4.7. Littrow Configuration.- 4.8. Practical Plane Transmission Gratings.- 4.9. Gratings in Series or with Multiple Dispersions.- 4.10. Classically Combining a Dispersive Grating Spectrometer with an Astronomical Telescope.- 5. Dispersive Spectrometers Employing Gratings.- 5.1. The Single-Entrance Slit Blazed-Grating Spectographs.- 5.2. The Slitless Blazed-Grating Spectrograph.- 5.3. The Multi-Entrance Slit Blazed Grating Spectrograph.- 5.4. The Single-Entrance Slit, Multi-Exit Slit, Blazed-Grating Monochromator.- 5.5. The Single-Entrance and Exit Slit, Blazed-Grating Monochromators.- 5.6. The Single-Entrance Slit, Many-Photomultiplier, Blazed-Grating Polychromator.- 5.7. The Multi-Band, Blazed-Grating Spectrograph.- 5.8. The Multi-Entrance and Exit-Slit, Single-Photomultiplier Blazed-Grating Monochromator.- 5.9. Objective and Non-Objective Blazed-Grating Spectrographs.- 5.10. The Blazed-Grating Monochromators with Grilles.- 5.11. The Coded-Mask, Multiplex, Grating Spectrometers.- 6. Useful High-Order Plane Fabry-Pérot Etalons.- 6.1. Introduction.- 6.2. Theory.- 6.3. All-Dielectric Multilayer Reflection Coatings.- 6.4. Cavity Losses.- 6.5. Acceptance Solid Angle.- 6.6. Defects.- 6.7. The Effective Finesse.- 6.8. Luminosity-Resolution Product.- 6.9. Scanning and Tuning Fabry-Pérots.- 6.10. Practical Fabry-Pérots ― Optically-Contacted Etalons.- 6.11. Exact Fractions for a Pressure Tuned Fabry-Pérot.- 6.12. Practical Fabry-Pérots ― Piezo-Mounted Etalons.- 6.13. Practical Fabry-Pérots ― Solid High-Order Etalons.- 6.14. The Spherical Fabry-Pérot.- 7. Interference Filters and Their Cameras.- 7.1. Introduction.- 7.2. Luminosity Resolution Product.- 7.3. Variation of the Pass-Band Maximum across the Diameter.- 7.4. Position of the Passband Maximum On-Axis.- 7.5. Variations of the Passband Maximum with Temperature.- 7.6. Variations of the Passband Maximum with Time.- 7.7. Cameras Exploiting Interference Filters.- 7.8. Direct and Quasi-Telecentric Filter Cameras.- 7.9. Telecentric Filter Cameras.- 7.10. Classically Combining a Filter Camera.- 7.11. Wide Field Cameras.- 8. The High-Order Fabry-Pérot Spectrometers.- 8.1. Introduction.- 8.2. The Classical Fabry-Pérot Spectrograph.- 8.3. The High-Order, Gas-Spaced, Fabry-Pérot as a Variable, Narrow Filter.- 8.4. The Non-Classical Fabry-Pérot Spectrograph.- 8.5. The Insect-Eye Fabry-Pérot Spectrograph.- 8.6. The Classical, Single-Fringe, Gas-Spaced Fabry-Pérot Monochromator.- 8.7. The Non-Classical (Telecentric) Single-Fringe, Gas-Spaced, Fabry-Pérot Monochromator.- 8.8. The Classical Multi-Fringe, Gas-Spaced Fabry-Pérot Monochromator.- 8.9. The Multi-Etalon, Single-Fringe, Fabry-Pérot, Monochromators (PEPSIOS).- 9. The Fourier Transform Spectrometers.- 9.1. Introduction.- 9.2. Two-Beam Interferometric Fourier Transform Spectrometers.- 9.3. Lamellar Grating Fourier Transform Spectrometers.- 10. Some Crossed Spectrometers.- 10.1. Grating × Fabry-Pérot Monochromators and Polychromators.- 10.2. The SISAM Monochromator.- 10.3. The SISAM × Fabry-Pérot Monochromator.- 11. Signal to Noise Ratios―The Principal Criteria of Merit.- 11.1. Introduction.- 11.2. Types of Noise.- 11.3. Problem 1.- 11.4. Problem 2.- 11.5. Problem 3.- 11.6. General Comment.