Fourier transform spectroscopy using stressed liquid crystal.

A Stressed Liquid Crystal (SLC) is proposed for application as a single panel retardance element in a Fourier transform (FT) spectrometer. Volume alignment in SLCs increase the maximum retardance and subsequent FT resolution by creating greater path lengths. Here, the relationship between transmission and shear for thick SLC cells is characterized and the spectral resolution using the SLC phase modulators in a single and double pass FT spectrometer system is quantified. For a 100 microm thick SLC, the resolution of a single frequency peak was observed at 60 nm full width half maximum.