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Fourier spectrometer

device
Also known as: Fourier transform spectrometer

Quick Summary

A Fourier-transform spectrometer is a device used in spectroscopy to analyze wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Unlike traditional absorption spectrometers that use a narrow band of radiation and a monochromator, a Fourier-transform spectrometer uses a broad band of radiation. This broad band passes through a sample, creating an interferogram due to the absorption of specific components.12

This interferogram, a signal intensity versus time function, is then digitized and stored in computer memory. A mathematical operation called a Fourier transform is applied to this data to convert the interferogram into the absorption spectrum. The primary advantage of this method is its speed, resolution, and sensitivity, allowing the entire spectrum to be recorded simultaneously with a single detector. Fourier-transform spectrometers can be designed to cover a wide range of spectral regions, from radio frequencies to X-rays.312

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