Intensifying Innovation: Creating of a Flexible Fourier Transform Spectrometer
Major
Physics
Second Major
Mathematics
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Physics
Faculty Advisor
Keller Andrews
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-12-2025 8:30 AM
End Date
4-12-2025 9:30 AM
Abstract
Spectroscopy is a technique to collect information about materials based on the spectra produced by illuminating the materials. Fourier transform spectroscopy is tracking the total intensity of light transmitted or absorbed by the material compared to a mirror position which is collected as an interferogram. Utilizing the Fourier Transform we can change these interferograms (an absorption or transmission vs mirror position graph) to intensity versus wavelength which can give us useful information about materials and their properties. Using this technique we hope to analyze the optical properties of several different materials including Vanadium Dioxide. To achieve this goal we are repurposing an inherited Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and will change out the optics, outdated control circuitry, and mirror controls in order to recreate the system in a new, adaptable way that can be extended in the future. This first step is to create a spectrometer in the visible range as we have other spectrometers to which we can compare the spectra from this instrument, and several different challenges associated with the infrared range are not present.
Intensifying Innovation: Creating of a Flexible Fourier Transform Spectrometer
CNS Atrium
Spectroscopy is a technique to collect information about materials based on the spectra produced by illuminating the materials. Fourier transform spectroscopy is tracking the total intensity of light transmitted or absorbed by the material compared to a mirror position which is collected as an interferogram. Utilizing the Fourier Transform we can change these interferograms (an absorption or transmission vs mirror position graph) to intensity versus wavelength which can give us useful information about materials and their properties. Using this technique we hope to analyze the optical properties of several different materials including Vanadium Dioxide. To achieve this goal we are repurposing an inherited Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and will change out the optics, outdated control circuitry, and mirror controls in order to recreate the system in a new, adaptable way that can be extended in the future. This first step is to create a spectrometer in the visible range as we have other spectrometers to which we can compare the spectra from this instrument, and several different challenges associated with the infrared range are not present.