Collection optics for imaging spectroscopy of an electric arc shock tube

Abstract

A system of collection optics was designed and built to perform imaging spectroscopy on shock waves created in the Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) at NASA Ames Research Center. This reflective system has four channels and collects radiation wavelengths that span from the vacuum ultraviolet to the near-infrared (120-1700nm). A telecentric object space minimizes blur along the direction of propagation of the shock wave. Additional fold mirrors preserve image orientation and cause the system to be symmetric with respect to the spectrometer entrance slits. The aperture is angularly segmented to allow more than one channel on each side of the shock tube. Optical/mechanical design trade studies, photographs of the as-built system and sample data are presented.