scope:

Abstract:

The Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs)-to-Read-Only Integrated Circuits (ROICs) timing and frame synchronization for imaging interferometers are significantly different than those typically used in radiometric cameras and other similar FPA applications. Because the Michelson interferometer used on GIFTS utilizes a translating end mirror to change and continuously scan the optical path, the frames of FPA are collected at constant Optical Path Difference (OPD) intervals over the entire scan. The interferometer mirror»s translation rate and its corresponding OPD change rate are not perfectly linear. Thus, the FPA collection frame rate will vary with time.