A Spectrometer as Simple as a CCD Detector

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, low-cost spectrometer design called PDS that uses pupil diffraction, eliminating complex components and enabling high spectral range and resolution through computational reconstruction, suitable for space and portable applications.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel pupil diffraction spectrometer (PDS) that simplifies structure, reduces cost, and maintains high spectral performance through reconstruction algorithms.

Findings

Simulation results confirm the feasibility of PDS.

PDS performs well under noisy conditions.

Potential applications include space exploration and portable diagnostics.

Abstract

Spectroscopy is the most fundamental instruments in almost every field of modern science. Conventional spectrometer is based on the dispersion elements such as various gratings. An alternative way is based on the filters such as interference filters, plasmonic nanoresonators, or quantum dots. However, for any of the above two spectrometers, the high-precision grating or the absorption filter should be elaborately designed and makes it expensive. Here, we propose a third spectrometer principle-pupil diffraction spectrometer (PDS). Since the high-precision grating and the elaborately designed absorption filter are abandoned, the whole structure of the PDS is just as simple as a CCD detector. Thus, compared with the above two spectrometer, the structure of the spectrometer is greatly simplified and the cost of the spectrometer is sharply reduced. In addition, the PDS can ensure the spectral range and resolution simultaneously due to the reconstruction its reconstruction algorithm. A series of simulation results are shown to demonstrate the feasibility of the PDS principle. Further, the effectiveness of the PDS principle in the noisy condition is also tested. Owing to this merits small size, light weight, and low cost, we expect the inventions of PDS has great application potential such as putting on the satellite to perform space exploration, and integrates to the smartphone to realize the detection pesticide residue in the food and clinical diagnose of the disease.