DESIGN OF A STATIC FOURIER-TRANSFORM SPECTROMETER WITH INCREASED FIELD-OF-VIEW

We present several novel designs of static Fourier-transform spectrome ters based on Wollaston prisms. By numerical modeling we show the incr eased field of view that can be obtained when an achromatic half-wave plate is included between the prisms or when prisms fabricated from po sitive and negative birefringent materials are combined. In addition, we model how a single Wollaston prism with an inclined optic axis prod uces a fringe plane localized behind its exit face, thus enabling the design of a static Fourier-transform spectrometer based on a single Wo llaston prism. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America