Fabrication of a high-quality, small blaze angle grating for visible short-wave infrared hyperspectral cameras.

This study outlines the development of a low line density, small blaze angle grating, optimized for a visible to short-wave infrared hyperspectral camera. An analysis of grating specifications was conducted to meet the precise requirements of this application, particularly focusing on the stringent tolerance limits for the blaze angle. A specialized ruling tool adjustment device was designed to adhere to these exacting blaze angle tolerances. The grating groove shape was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the theoretical diffraction efficiency of the grating was calculated based on these observations. Additionally, laser-based methods were employed to measure the actual diffraction efficiency of the grating, while interferometry was used to assess the grating's diffraction wavefront. The test results demonstrate our capability to fabricate high-quality gratings with a low line density and small blaze angles that are suitable for advanced hyperspectral imaging applications.

Detection of microplastics via a confocal-microscope spatial-heterodyne Raman spectrometer with echelle gratings.

Microplastic pollution has become a global environmental problem that cannot be ignored. Raman spectroscopy has been widely used for microplastics detection because it can be performed in real-time and is non-destructive. Conventional detection techniques have had weak signals and low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Here, an efficient and reliable detection method is demonstrated. Specifically, a confocal microscope combined with an echelle-grating spatial-heterodyne Raman spectrometer (CM-ESHRS) was constructed. The confocal microscopy and the characteristics of the echelle grating enabled high optical throughput, high SNR, high spectral resolution, and a wide spectral detection band. After spectral calibration, the resolution approached 0.67 cm-1, moreover, the spectral detection range for a single order was 1372.16 cm-1. We detected and analyzed nineteen kinds of microplastics, such as polyamide, polypropylene, and polymethylmethacrylate, and the main vibrational spectral bands were categorized. Compared with commercial dispersive spectrometers, CM-ESHRS has a higher optical throughput. In addition, we examined microplastics with various particle sizes, microplastics mixed in flour, and microplastic particles of different materials under mixed conditions, all of which yielded complete spectral information. Overall, CM-ESHRS exhibits good potential applications for the detection of microplastics.