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

9861095 这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目探索了一种液晶（LC）标准具设计，该设计利用了固态法布里-珀罗标准具，该标准具可通过改变施加的电势来调节。 第一阶段将构建原型系统，该原型系统使用一些较小的LC标准具的精确调谐能力来产生马赛克，当调谐时，该马赛克将充当较大孔径的单个标准具。 镶嵌标准具的直径可以远远超过传统单片标准具的直径，并且可以保持LC标准具固有的易用性。 据认为，LC技术，即仪器的核心，将成为未来光谱学的重要组成部分。 预计在以下方面会有商业应用：受管制的环境污染物的遥感、取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进行测量以及无源探测晴空湍流。

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.