High resolution multiple channel imaging spectrometer

An improved high resolution spectrometer for generating multiple spectral channels from a source of radiant energy directed along the optical path of said spectrometer, the improvement in combination therewith comprising:

• a single blazed echelon located in said optical path for forming a spectrum of overlapping spectra from said radiant energy, wherein said blazed echelon has grooves fabricated from a coarse material and wherein each one of said spectra corresponds to a specific spectral order number and a specific spectral channel;
• a single blazed grating disperser located in said optical path for separating said overlapping spectra into discrete spectral channels, said blazed grating disperser being holographically formed having a predetermined grating constant to eliminate periodic errors, thereby precluding the formation of ghost images and spectrally isolating said spectral channels to enable said spectrometer to have a high optical throughput;
• and
• a silicon detector having an array of detector elements, each one of said detector elements being adapted to detect a corresponding-one of said discrete spectral channels, each one of said discrete spectral channels of said radiant energy being reflected from said single blazed grating dispenser to the detector elements adapted to detect that spectral channel.

A spectrometer for detecting radiant energy, comprising:

• a scan mirror for receiving radiant energy from a target area;
• a telescope assembly for directing the radiant energy reflected off said scan mirror along an optical path;
• a first collimator for collimating the radiant energy directed throughout the telescope assembly;
• a blazed echelon that receives the collimated radiant energy received from the first collimator, wherein said blazed echelon divides the radiant energy into a spectrum of overlapping spectra;
• a single blazed grating disperser that receives said spectrum of overlapping spectra from said blazed echelon and separates the overlapping spectra into discrete spectral channels;
• and
• a plurality of detecting means for detecting said discrete spectral channels reflected from said single blazed grating disperser, wherein each of said plurality of detecting means is adapted to detect one of said discrete spectral channels, and said single blazed grating disperser directs each of said discrete spectral channels toward the detecting means adapted to detect that spectral channel.

A method of detecting discrete spectral channels contained within radiant energy, comprising the steps of:

• collimating impinging radiant energy;
• directing the collimated radiant energy against a blazed echelon to produce a spectrum of overlapping spectra;
• directing said overlapping spectra against a single blazed grating disperser, wherein said blazed grating disperser separates said overlapping spectra into discrete spectral channels, wherein each of said discrete spectral channels is directed along a separate path;
• and
• providing a single detection means for each of said discrete spectral channels along each separate path, wherein each of the detecting means detects the radiant energy contained within the discrete spectral channel along that path.