title: Chirped holographic grating used as the dispersive element in an optical spectrometer.
abstract: We have developed a new design of optical spectrometer based on the use of a chirped holographic grating inscribed on a flat substrate. This type of grating has a surface modulation with a spatially varying period. The ability of the chirped grating to focus a beam is exploited to reduce significantly the physical dimensions of the instrument. Wavelength selection is achieved by a pure translation of the chirped grating. The properties of the chirped grating spectrometer have been characterized with different lasers and arc lamps and compared with those of two commercial spectrometers. A performance parameter has been defined, enabling the various instruments to be compared.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Optique, Photonique et Laser, Département de Physique, de Génie Physique et d'Optique, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCarthy