Michelson Interferometer with Rotating Retroreflector.

Kurzfassung

A new device for the Fourier Transform Spectroscopy is introduced. Instead of the two plane mirrors of the classical Michelson interferometer two retroreflectors are used. Optical path difference is generated by rotation of one of the retroreflectors. For this purpose the axis of rotation is tilted with reference to the optical axis and displaced with reference to the center of the retroreflector. The nutation of the reflector in the direction of the optical axis causes the pathlength alteration. The features of this device are discussed and special future applications are presented.