SBIR Phase I: A Large Mosaic Liquid Crystal Fabry-Perot Etalon for Atmospheric Sensing

9861095这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目探索了一种液晶（LC）标准子设计，该设计利用了固态法布里·佩罗标准子，可以通过改变应用电位来调节。第一阶段将构建原型系统，该系统使用许多较小的LC标准子的精确调谐能力来产生马赛克，当调谐时，将充当较大孔径的单个标准子。该镶嵌式标准龙的直径远远超过传统的单片标准龙，并且保留了LC标准龙固有的易用性。人们认为，作为仪器核心的LC技术将成为未来光谱学的重要组成部分。商业应用有望在受管制的环境污染物遥感、替代目前用于光谱成像应用的大孔径干涉滤光片、利用光谱遥感或过程光谱的测量以及晴空湍流的被动探测等方面得到应用。

9861095 This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project explores a liquid crystal (LC) etalon design that capitalizes on solid state Fabry Perot etalons, which are tunable by altering an applied potential. Phase I will construct prototype systems that use the precision tuning capability of a number of smaller LC etalons to produce a mosaic that, when tuned, will act as a single etalon of larger aperture. The mosaic etalons can be produced with diameters far exceeding those of traditional monolithic etalons, and can retain the ease of use inherent in LC etalons. It is thought that the LC technique, that is the centerpiece of the instrument, will become an essential component of future spectroscopy. Commercial applications are expected in remote sensing of regulated environmental pollutants, replacement of current large aperture interference filters for spectral imaging applications, measurements utilizing spectroscopic remote sensing or process spectroscopy, and passive detection of clear air turbulence.