Upconversion spectrometry for astrophysical applications

Black body measurements and absorption spectra of methane near 3.3 microns are presented and used as examples in a discussion of upconversion spectrometry for astrophysical application. Factors determining the system conversion efficiency and the minimum detectable flux for a typical system are presented. The spectrometer described uses an Argon-ion laser and a temperature turned LiNbO3 crystal in a CW mode. Satisfactory agreement between measured and calculated performance parameters is obtained. An estimate of the highest performance parameters attainable using current technology is given.