The locations of self-reproduction planes in the Talbot effect and the dist
ance between coherence peaks in the Lau effect are functions of the radiati
on wavelength. This fact can be used to develop new methods for spectral in
vestigations. Below, we estimate the spectral selectivity of Talbot and Lau
effects and compare it with the resolving power of traditional spectrograp
hs with diffraction gratings. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".