FOURIER-TRANSFORM INTERFEROMETER WITH STAIRCASE REFLECTIVE ELEMENT

An apparatus for performing Raman spectral analysis of a sample is described, comprising a coherent light source, an first optical chain to direct the coherent light to impinge on the sample, a second optical chain to direct the scattered light onto a diffraction grating, and a third optical chain to direct the diffracted light onto detection array. The diffraction grating is a plurality of alternating-slope stairsteps, wherein the portion of the step disposed parallel to the base of the diffraction grating is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the path of the scattered light from the second optical chain. The zeroth-order fringe is selected by a slit and directed onto camera. The resultant interferogram is Fourier transformed to produce a representation of the Raman spectrum.