Methods and devices for reducing spectral noise and spectrometry systems employing such devices

A method comprising:

• reducing spectral noise caused by a first spectral component propagating through an optical train of a spectrometer by spatial filtering or interference between an output plane of the spectrometer and a detector;
• and
• detecting at the detector a second spectral component passing through the optical train of the spectrometer,
• wherein the second spectral component has a wavelength different from that of the first spectral component,
• the spectral noise is caused by diffraction due to the first spectral component propagating through the optical train of the spectrometer,
• the spectral noise is reduced by a filtering module that produces said spatial filtering or interference,
• at least a portion of the filtering module is disposed between the output plane of the spectrometer and the detector, and
• an interference pattern is generated by the filtering module based on light interrogating a sample using a phase/amplitude modulator, the interference pattern being effective to reduce the spectral noise caused by diffraction and/or to remove the first spectral component.

A system comprising:

• a spectrometer having an optical train;
• a detector;
• and
• a filtering module,
• wherein the filtering module is constructed to produce spatial filtering or interference of light so as to reduce spectral noise caused by light propagating through the optical train of the spectrometer prior to being detected by the detector, and
• the spectral noise comprises spatial frequencies generated by diffraction of the light.

A system comprising:

• a spectrometer having an optical train;
• a detector;
• a filtering module constructed to produce spatial filtering or interference of light so as to reduce spectral noise caused by light propagating through the optical train of the spectrometer prior to being detected by the detector;
• and
• a phase/amplitude modulator that modifies a portion of interrogating light to produce an interference pattern, at or prior to the detector, effective to reduce the spectral noise and/or to remove a first spectral component.

A kit for modification of an existing spectrometry setup, comprising:

• a filtering module constructed to produce spatial filtering or interference of light so as to reduce spectral noise caused by light propagating through an optical train of a spectrometer prior to being detected by a detector;
• one or more beam splitters;
• and
• a phase/amplitude modulator configured to modify a portion of interrogating light, via the one or more beam splitters, to produce an interference pattern effective to reduce the spectral noise and/or to remove a first spectral component.