Performance comparison of an anamorphic spatial heterodyne spectrometer with conventional spectrometer

This article describes the modeling of the generic spatial heterodyne spectrometer, which resembles a somewhat modified Michelson interferometer. The power spectrum of the input source is determined by performing a one dimensional Fourier transform on the output intensity profile captured by a linear array detector. In order to illustrate the techniques employed in the modeling, an example of a heterodyne interferometer is developed and a comparison undertaken between its performance and that of a conventional spectrometer. Unlike the traditional FTIR system, the heterodyne spectrometer has the very desirable feature of having no moving components.