This software models the performance of a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). More specifically, it is able to add a number of noise/error sources to the interferogram and transform the errors back to the spectral domain.

A MATLAB script has been developed that can model a simple FTS. Error/noise sources such as photon noise, detector noise, A/D noise, Optical Path Distance (OPD) metrology system noise, detector nonlinearity, electronics noise, gain stability, and OPD metrology system error can be simulated. The script operates as a Monte Carlo simulation. A high number of interferograms based on the FTS configuration are generated. The error/noise sources are then added to the interferograms. The interferograms are then transformed back into the spectral domain. Based on the spectras, the S/N at a specific spectral absorption line is calculated. The software is able to model a number of simple errors that are common to all FTS.

This work was done by Carl Christian Liebe, Randall K. Bartman, Geoffrey C. Toon, Michael W. Roche, Robert A. Stachnik, and Bijan Nemati of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software is available for license through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and you may request a license at: https://download.jpl.nasa.gov/ops/request/request_introduction.cfm . NPO-48891.