Building an Efficient FTIR
Major
Physics
Second Major
Mathematics
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Physics
Faculty Advisor
Keller Andrews
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 12:30 PM
Abstract
Spectroscopy is a technique to collect information about the optical properties of materials based on the spectra produced by illuminating the materials. Fourier Transform Spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique that uses interference in the illuminating beam of light, tracking the total intensity of light transmitted by a material which is compared to a mirror position to construct an interferogram. Utilizing the Fourier Transform, we can change these interferograms (a graph of measured intensity vs mirror position) 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, a material with interesting optical properties in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. To achieve this goal, we have built a custom Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer with cheap but effective parts. We have explored several methods to precisely move a mirror through a comparatively long Optical Path Difference, which will correspond to the final spectrum’s resolution. However, we also need a way to move the mirror with nanometer precision, as that corresponds to the interferogram’s minimum wavelength as a consequence of the Fourier Transform.
Building an Efficient FTIR
CNS Atrium
Spectroscopy is a technique to collect information about the optical properties of materials based on the spectra produced by illuminating the materials. Fourier Transform Spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique that uses interference in the illuminating beam of light, tracking the total intensity of light transmitted by a material which is compared to a mirror position to construct an interferogram. Utilizing the Fourier Transform, we can change these interferograms (a graph of measured intensity vs mirror position) 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, a material with interesting optical properties in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. To achieve this goal, we have built a custom Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer with cheap but effective parts. We have explored several methods to precisely move a mirror through a comparatively long Optical Path Difference, which will correspond to the final spectrum’s resolution. However, we also need a way to move the mirror with nanometer precision, as that corresponds to the interferogram’s minimum wavelength as a consequence of the Fourier Transform.