Spectrometer comprising a spatial light modulator

Abstract

A spectrometer comprising an input for optical radiation; a dispersion element, such as a concave focussing reflection diffraction grating, for dispersing incident optical radiation passing from the input by wavelength; an output and a spatial light modulator “SLM” disposed to receive a wavelength region of in-put optical radiation dispersed by the dispersion element and operable to selectively direct wavelength portions of the received wavelength region for receipt at the output. The input is configured to provide a plurality of entrance field stops, such as entrance slits, by means of each of which the dispersion element is, in use, illuminated and each of which is positioned to cooperate with the dispersion element to generate a different dispersed wavelength region at the SLM.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.