Balloon-Borne Fourier Spectrometer Using A Focal Plane Detector Array

The development of a Michelson interferometer-spectrometer which incorporates a detector array in its focal plane has provided tool for performing simultaneous spectral and spatial measurements. The instrument simultaneously views up to sixteen areas which are defined by a 4 by 4 detector array. Each detector element corresponds to a viewing field of approximately 1.4 by 1.4 degrees square, and the total 16 element array views a 6.1 by 6.1 degree field. Theinstrument was designed to operate in an uncontrolled temperature and pressure environment, which makes it ideal for use on high altitude balloon platforms. No heaters are used to stabilize the alignment of the interferometer cube. As a result, full advantage of cold ambient temperatures can be utilized to reduce the thermal backgrounds emitted from the instrument structures and to increase the detector sensitivity.