Compact imaging spectrometer utilizing immersed gratings

A compact imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit for directing light,
• lens means for receiving said light, refracting said light, and focusing said light;
• an immersed diffraction grating that receives said light from said lens means and diffracts said light, said immersed diffraction grating directing said diffracted light back to said lens means;
• and
• a detector that receives said light from said lens means.

An imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit for directing light,
• a catadioptric lens means for receiving said light and directing said light,
• a reflective grating that receives said light from said catadioptric lens means and diffracts said light back onto said catadioptric lens means which focuses said light, and
• a detector that receives said focused light.

An imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit for directing light,
• a catadioptric lens that receives said light and directs said light,
• an immersed grating, and
• a detector array, wherein said entrance slit directs light to said catadioptric lens, said catadioptric lens receives said light and reflects said light to said immersed grating, said immersed grating receives said light from said catadioptric lens and diffracts said light back onto said catadioptric lens, and said catadioptric lens refracts and reflects said light back to the detector array.

A compact reflective imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit for directing light,
• a first mirror that receives said light and reflects said light,
• an immersive diffraction grating that diffracts said light,
• a second mirror that focuses said light, and
• a detector array that receives said focused light.

A compact imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit,
• an anamorphic mirror,
• a grating, and
• a detector array, wherein said entrance slit directs light to said anamorphic mirror, said anamorphic mirror receives said light and directs said light to a grating, said grating receives said light from said anamorphic mirror and diffracts said light back onto said anamorphic mirror, and said anamorphic mirror focuses said light onto said detector array.

A compact reflective imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit for directing light,
• a first lens means for receiving said light and focusing said light,
• an immersed diffraction grating that receives said light from said first means and diffracts said light,
• a second lens group means for receiving said light from said immersed diffraction grating and focusing said light, and
• an image plane that receives said light from said second means.

A compact imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit,
• a catadioptric lens with a mirrored surface,
• an immersed diffraction grating, and
• a detector array,
• said entrance slit, said catadioptric lens, said mirrored surface, said immersed diffraction grating, and said a detector array positioned wherein said entrance slit directs light to said catadioptric lens, to said mirrored surface, said mirrored surface receives the light and reflects the light back through said lens to said diffraction grating, said grating receives the light from said lens and diffracts the light back to said lens, and said lens transmits and focuses the light onto said detector array.

A compact imaging spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an entrance slit,
• a catadioptric lens with a mirrored surface,
• a refractive lens,
• an immersed diffraction grating, and
• a detector array,
• said entrance slit, said catadioptric lens with said mirrored surface, said refractive lens, said immersed diffraction grating, and said a detector array positioned wherein said entrance slit directs light to said catadioptric lens, to said mirrored surface, said mirrored surface receives the light and reflects the light back through said lens to said diffraction grating, said grating receives the light from said catadioptric lens and diffracts the light back to said catadioptric lens, and said catadioptric lens transmits and focuses the light to the said refractive lens, said refractive lens receives said light from said catadioptric lens and focuses said light onto said detector array.