Near-Infrared Planetary Spectra by Fourier Spectroscopy I Instruments and Results

Abstract

A near-infrared, two-beam interferometer has been built for astronomical observations by Fourier transform spectroscopy. Various improvements, especially a highly accurate interferometrically controlled stepping drive, have resulted in the production of laboratory spectra with 0.1-cm−1 resolution and unusually clean instrumental line shape, and spectra of Venus and Mars with about 1-cm−1 resolution.