Interferometer having multiple scan carriages

A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy system, comprising:

• a light source configured to emit infrared radiation;
• and
• an interferometer comprising:
• a beam splitter assembly mounted to a base and configured to split the infrared radiation emitted from the light source into first and second portions of radiation and to recombine the first and second portions of reflected radiation to provide recombined radiation comprising first and second portions of reflected radiation having varying relative phases;
• a fixed mirror mounted to the base and configured to reflect the first portion of radiation to provide the first portion of reflected radiation to the beam splitter;
• a movable mirror configured to reflect the second portion of radiation to provide the second portion of reflected radiation to the beam splitter, the movable mirror being movable with respect to the beam splitter in a scan direction to change the phase of the second portion of reflected radiation relative to the first portion of reflected radiation;
• a first scan carriage mounted to the base and movable in a first arc motion with respect to the stationary base;
• and
• a second scan carriage mounted to the first scan carriage and movable in a second arc motion with respect to the first scan carriage, the second arc motion being substantially equal to the first arc motion, while arcing in an opposite direction,
• wherein the movable mirror is attached to the second scan carriage such that movement of the first scan carriage in the first arc motion and movement of the second scan carriage in the second arc motion enable movement of the movable mirror in the scan direction.

An interferometer of a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy system, the interferometer comprising:

• a fixed assembly comprising a base, a beam splitter configured to split light emitted from a light source into first and second portions of light, and a fixed mirror for reflecting the first portion of light;
• and
• a movable assembly, movable with respect to the fixed assembly, comprising a first scan carriage, a second scan carriage and a movable mirror connected to the second scan carriage for reflecting the second portion of light, wherein the beam splitter is further configured to combine the reflected first and second portions of light into a recombined radiation beam;
• wherein the first scan carriage is movable relative to the base, and the second scan carriage is moveable relative to the first scan carriage, and
• wherein a first point in a first plane of the first scan carriage defines a first arc during the movement of the first scan carriage, and a second point in a second plane of the second scan carriage defines a second arc, equal and opposite to the first arc, during the movement of the second scan carriage, the first point and the second point being geometric conjugates.