Multiplex Fabry-Perot interferometer

A new type of Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) which exploits the multiplex advantage is presented. The Multiplex Fabry-Perot Interferometer (MFPI) has one etalon plate that is fixed while the other is moved over a large optical distance thus producing an interferogram similar to that obtained with a Michelson Interferometer. The result is an instrument which has the ability to examine large spectral regions at high resolution using the inversion techniques normally applied to a Michelson Interferometer while retaining the small size of an FPI. The MFPI is a compact rugged high resolution instrument that will be useful for the remote sensing of minor species.