Birefringent static Fourier-transform spectrometer for flow cytometry and imaging spectroscopy.

A new concept for a birefringent static Fourier-transform spectrometer, applicable to both spectral flow cytometry and hyperspectral imaging, is introduced. Biological particles or scenes in relative motion are imaged onto a polarization interferometer consisting of a calcite Wollaston prism between crossed polarizers, with polarization axes at 45° with respect to the optical axes of the Wollaston prism. Due to the position-dependent optical path delay of the interferometer, interferograms are generated by the relative motion. These interferograms are recorded either by a flow cytometer detector, or in the case of hyperspectral imaging, by a CMOS focal plane array. Fourier-transforming the interferograms with respect to time yields the optical spectrum of each particle or scene position. The concept has applicability to situations where linear motion is already present, including flow cytometers, conveyor belt systems, fixed-wing aircraft, and nanosatellites.