It is suggested that multimode slab waveguide spectrographs currently under development for wavelength division multiplexing in optical communications might have an application in astronomy. The nature of these devices is described, and a survey of their development in the communications industry presented. The applicability of existing devices is investigated and found to be limited. However, it is shown that only a modest improvement in resolution (factor of 2-4), together with a realization of the potentially very high optical efficiency, could yield an astronomically useful device. The anticipated problems in developing such as instrument are outlined.

Date Published: 14 June 1995
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 2476, Fiber Optics in Astronomical Applications, (14 June 1995); doi: 10.1117/12.211840

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2476:
Fiber Optics in Astronomical Applications
Samuel Charles Barden, Editor(s)