Study of a wave-front-dividing interferometer for Fourier transform spectroscopy

A principal design of a wave-front-dividing interferometer for Fourier transform spectroscopy is proposed. The interference pattern for far-field Fraunhofer diffraction is calculated by means of the complex amplitude of the electric field. Relationships for wavelength, period constant, period number and diffraction angle have been investigated. The detection of the interferogram is also discussed. Results of the experiments are shown to support the calculations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.