Real-time multiplexing of dispersed spectra in any wavelength region.

A multiplex technique is described that is binary in nature and that can be used in the observation of a dispersed spectrum in any wavelength region for which a detector exists. The subsequent data processing involves the minimum possible number of operations and can easily be carried out in real time. The number of observations that must be made is also a minimum, equal to the number of spectral elements. Methods of generating the coding and decoding patterns, derived from the simple mathematical formulation of the multiplexing technique, are described.