The objective of this program is to develop a two dimensional-imaging, Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) for vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy of plasmas. This instrument would be:(1) the first FTS produced for spectroscopy at wavelengths shorter than the cutoff limit of fused silica, and(2) the first two-dimensional-imaging Fourier transform spectrometer.The major advantageous features of Fourier transform spectroscopy are very high resolution, small instrument size (,compared to grating spectrometers), large throughput caused by a circular aperture, and stigmatic imaging, resulting in increased sensitivity and dynamic range in the spatial and spectral diagnostics of plasmas. Extension of the present low-wavelength limit of Fouriertransform spectrometers from 230 nm (43,500 cm 1) to our goal of 120 nm (83,300 cm-'), almost doubles the energy range of atomic transitions that can be studied at high resolution. This VUV spectral region contains many forbidden lines that are emitted by ions in high temperature plasmas.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:A VUV Fourier transform spectrometer designed for atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) would have higher resolution and throughput than existing AES instrumentation and would be sensitive to many nonmetals, such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, bromine, sulfur, chlorine, and fluorine, that have analytical lines in the VUV, and would represent a considerable advance for industrial and research atomic emission spectroscopy.
