Improved Microsecond-Response Electromechanical Spectrograph Shutter

Abstract

An improved microsecond-response electromechanical shutter using a rigid body electromagnetic induction driver has been developed for obtaining time-resolved spectra of short duration, transient phenomena with an ordinary time-integrating spectrograph. The shutter, with simple translational closed-open-closed action, is event triggered. It is currently used for spectral line broadening studies that presently require a range of shutter open times from 40 to 1800 μsec. The shutter's ease of use, a nonrepeatability of generally less than one percent, and the high maximum velocity in excess of 5000 cm/sec are its salient features.