Novel Spectrometer Enhances Imaging Precision in Nano- and Bio-Systems
January 11, 2024
In a study published in the Light: Science & Applications on Jan.8，2024, scientists from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed spectrometer and monochromator with an unprecedented throughput efficiency exceeding 60%. This innovative design, achieved without the use of variable line spacing gratings, also boasts superb spectral resolution with λ/Δλ> 200.
Utilizing the advantages of conical diffraction geometry, the optical system is globally optimized in multidimensional parameter space to ensure optimal imaging performance across a wide spectral range. Additionally, it maintains circular and elliptical polarization states at the first, second, and third diffraction orders.
The analysis reveals minimal temporal dispersion, with pulse broadening confined within 80 fs tail-to-tail and an FWHM value of 29 fs. This characteristic enables ultrafast spectroscopic and pump-probe studies with femtosecond accuracy.
Moreover, the spectrometer can effortlessly transform into a monochromator spanning the EUV-soft X-ray spectral region using a single grating with an aberration-free spatial profile. This capability allows coherent diffractive imaging applications to be conducted with highly monochromatic light across a broad spectral range.
It extends to the soft X-ray region with minimal photon loss, facilitating state-of-the-art imaging of intricate nano- and bio-systems. The technology promises significantly enhanced spatiotemporal resolution, down to the nanometer–femtosecond level, opening new possibilities for advanced scientific exploration.
Research News
Novel Spectrometer Enhances Imaging Precision in Nano- and Bio-Systems