Development of a polymer-based miniaturized spectrometer for the optical wavelength range

In the "MiniSpectral" project at Jade University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven, a polymer-based miniaturized spectrometer is being developed. Utilizing advanced injection molding techniques, the spectrometer incorporates a polymer dome as its foundational structure. Integrated onto the dome's surface is a concave diffraction grating, dispersing incident light into individual wavelengths. The relationship between the dome and grating exhibits a generalized Rowland circle radius ratio in three-dimensional space, facilitating a lens effect for focused detection and analysis. To model the optical configuration, Zemax raytracing simulations are employed, complemented by wave optics simulations utilizing Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (RCWA) implemented through Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) in Zemax. These simulations play a crucial role in optimizing the spectrometer's performance.