Abstract:
An additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF) includes i) a first polarizer for receiving an input light, such as from a monochromatic light source, and transmitting a first polarized output, ii) at least one birefringent plate positioned to receive the first polarizer output and transmit an output with wavelength-dependent polarization state, and iii) a second polarizer for receiving the plate output and transmitting a second polarized, filtered output. An ASF spectroscopy system includes the ASF; a monochromatic light source input, e.g. a laser; a sample chamber for exposing a sample to the second polarized, tuned output and generating a signal characteristic of the sample that is filtered by the ASF; and a detector for acquiring the characteristic signal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention is directed to a notch filter for spectroscopy. More particularly, the invention is directed to a spectroscopic system employing an additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of optical applications in the deep ultra violet (DUV) range have limitations due to the absence of simple and reliable optical notch filters. A “notch” filter is one that blocks a narrow wavelength region and transmits other wavelengths. 
     This is particularly limiting since the DUV optical range is an interesting range and fruitful for a number of remote sensing applications that take advantage of “solar blind measurements”. e.g. as described in M. Razeghi, “Short-Wavelength Solar-Blind Detectors—Status, Prospects and Markets”  Proceedings of IEEE  V. 90, No 6, pp. 1006-1014 (2002) where relatively high atmospheric transmission is combined with virtually no solar background light (blocked by ozone layer in upper atmosphere). 
     Such a filter could be used to suppress elastically scattered light (Raleigh or diffuse scattering from a sample) in ultra-violet resonance Raman (UVRR) diagnostics, e.g. as described in S. A. Asher, “UV Resonance Raman Spectroscopy for Analytical. Physical and Biophysical Chemistry”,  Analytical Chemistry  V. 65. No 2. pp 59A 66A, 201A-210A (1993). One such diagnostic, Swept Wavelength Optical Resonance Raman Diagnostic (SWORRD), is described in Grun et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,436,510, issued Oct. 14, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference. An effective notch filter would allow the use of compact single-stage spectrometers for data acquisition. However, a limited choice of optically transparent materials in the DUV range is a considerable obstacle to the design of interferometric filters or acousto-optical tunable notch filters for wavelengths shorter than 300 nm. 
     A birefringent filter design originally proposed by {hacek over (S)}olc, described in 1. {hacek over (S)}olc “Birefringent chain filters”  JOSA  V. 55, p. 621 (1965), and incorporated herein by reference, is suitable for DUV applications. Such {hacek over (S)}olc filter includes two typical configurations, fan and folded. A detailed description of both types of {hacek over (S)}olc filters and analysis of their spectral transmission can be found in A. Yariv and P. Yeh, “Optical Waves in Crystals” Wiley Classics Library Edition, ISBN 0-471-43081-1, pp 133-154 (2003), which is based on Jones matrix formalism, described in R. C Jones, “New calculus for the treatment of optical systems”,  JOSA  V. 31, p. 488 (1941). These designs, however, are exclusively for narrow-line transmission (&lt;1 nm), rather than for rejection (or blocking) of narrow linewidths. 
     It would be desirable to provide an optical filter to remove these limitations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, an additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF) includes i) a first polarizer for receiving an input light, such as from a monochromatic light source, and transmitting a first polarized output, ii) at least one birefringent plate positioned to receive the first polarizer output and transmit an output with wavelength-dependent polarization state, and iii) a second polarizer for receiving the plate output and transmitting a second polarized, filtered output. An ASF spectroscopy system includes the ASF: a monochromatic light source input, e.g. a laser; a sample chamber for exposing a sample to the second polarized, tuned output and generating a signal characteristic of the sample that is filtered by the ASF; and a detector for acquiring the characteristic signal. 
     The additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (“ASF”) is suitable for narrow-line rejection (&lt;1 nm), as dictated by the needs of UVRR and other applications. A few birefringent materials have excellent DUV transmission and could be used to construct such a filter (e.g. crystal quartz, sapphire or magnesium fluoride). Such a filter is particularly useful for applications in the 190 to 250 nm range, where alternative filters are inefficient or simply do not exist. The ASF can also provide blocking of one or more particular wavelengths and have a desired spacing between the blocked wavelengths. The ASF is especially advantageous for multi-wavelength and/or wavelength-tunable applications such as SWORRD [Grun et al., above], since a single ASF can be used at a sequence of wavelengths. All other improvements applicable to a regular {hacek over (S)}olc filter are also applicable to ASF (e.g. {hacek over (S)}olc filters can be modified to allow an extended field-of-view or implement tunability by using an external electric field, as described in H. A. Tarry, “Electrically tunable narrowband optical filter”  Electronics Letters  V. 11, p 471. Slight tuning of the filter can be accomplished by tilt, temperature or external electric field. The ASF is shown to provide sufficient contrast to acquire the Raman spectrum of a highly scattering sample (such as Teflon) using a single stage grating spectrograph simultaneously for both Stokes and anti-Stokes regions. An ASF allows integration into the fiber Raman probe, which is particularly useful for applications in the field that typically employ surface illumination and collection of the backscattered Raman signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a {hacek over (S)}olc filter; 
         FIG. 2  is a graph of a transmission calculation for a folded ASF; designed specifically to block 248 nm, and providing blocking at many other wavelengths as well. 
         FIG. 3  is a graph showing ASF transmission (in percents) for one of the blocked wavelengths on an expanded scale; 
         FIG. 4  shows numerical simulations for a six plate ASF design incorporating reasonably anticipated assembly errors for the selected plate azimuth angles (ρ) and manufacturing errors for thicknesses (d); 
         FIG. 5  is a calculated tuning curve for a tilted ASF at a specific blocked wavelength; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of the ASF experiment arrangement for transmission tests. 
         FIG. 7  shows the measured transmission spectra for the {hacek over (S)}olc filter ( FIG. 7A ) and for the ASF ( FIG. 7B ); 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of a spectroscopy system employing the additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF) according to the invention 
         FIG. 9  is a graph showing an acquired Raman spectrum of Teflon by a single grating spectroscopy system according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic representation of a fiber coupled spectroscopy system employing an additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF) according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A {hacek over (S)}olc filter is formed by an in-line arrangement of optically transparent birefringent plates of properly chosen material, thickness and orientation of optic axis with respect to each other, placed between optical polarizers located at either end of the arrangement. There are two types of {hacek over (S)}olc filter designs: fan and folded. Azimuth angles for optical components of the simplest {hacek over (S)}olc filters of both types are summarized in Table 1. The angle ρ=45°/N is determined by the number of plates N. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Arrangement of optical components in fan and folded {hacek over (S)}olc filters 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Filter type 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Fan 
                 Folded 
               
               
                   
                 Element 
                 Azimuth angle 
                 Azimuth angle 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Entrance polarizer 
                 0° 
                 0° 
               
               
                   
                 Plate 1 
                 ρ 
                 ρ 
               
               
                   
                 Plate 2 
                 3ρ  
                 −ρ   
               
               
                   
                 Plate 3 
                 5ρ  
                 ρ 
               
               
                   
                 Plate 4 
                 7ρ  
                 −ρ   
               
               
                   
                 Plate N 
                 (2N−1)ρ 
                 (−1) N ρ 
               
               
                   
                 Exit polarizer 
                 0° 
                 90° 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In a folded {hacek over (S)}olc filter the transmitted wavelength is rotated by 90°, while in a fan {hacek over (S)}olc filter the polarization of the transmitted wavelength is preserved. For both filter types, a set of properly oriented birefringent plates alters the polarization of a few “special” wavelengths, so that these “special” wavelengths are selectively transmitted by a polarizer placed at the output of the filter. This arrangement is required for use of a {hacek over (S)}olc filter as a “narrow-line” transmission filter. 
     The ASF is “additive” to the {hacek over (S)}olc filter in a sense that it is a narrow-line rejection filter. This additive operation mode is achieved if either the output polarizer is rotated orthogonally to its position in a {hacek over (S)}olc filter: or, if the output polarizer (such as a polarizing beamsplitter) produces two orthogonally polarized outputs, in which case the alternative output of the filter is used.  FIG. 1  depicts arrangements where such operation is possible: (a) Folded-transmitted, (b) Folded-reflected, (c) Fan-transmitted and (d) Fan-reflected geometries. Table 1 includes the relative orientations of both fan and folded birefringent plate assemblies. 
     The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the very narrow rejected spectral range (notch) depends on filter design and is generally comparable to the FWHM for interferometric notch filters. In our implementation of the ASF a folded geometry is used, since the ASF based on this geometry preserves the polarization state of transmitted light, a preferred arrangement for the experimental tests. However, similar performance can be achieved with fan geometry. 
     To illustrate why certain “special” wavelengths are rejected by the ASF, consider the simplest case, when all birefringent plates are made of the same uniaxial birefringent material, have the same thickness and are arranged in a folded geometry. Due to the optical dispersion, the optical phase retardation of the plates is wavelength dependent, and can be calculated if the plate thickness is known. For crystal quartz, the following Laurent series equations can be used: 
             n   =         A   0     +       A   1     ⁢     λ   2       +       A   2     /     λ   2       +       A   3     /     λ   4       +       A   4     /     λ   6       +       A   5     /     λ   8                 
where coefficients for n e  are:
 
                 A   0     =   2.3849     ;       A   1     =         -   1.259     ⁢   E     -   2       ;       A   2     =       1.079   ⁢   E     -   2       ;                   A   3     =       1.6518   ⁢   E     -   4       ;       A   4     =         -   1.94741     ⁢   E     -   6       ;       A   5     =       9.36476   ⁢   E     -   8             
and for n o  are:
 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 A 
                 0 
               
               = 
               2.35728 
             
             ; 
             
               
                 A 
                 1 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     - 
                     1.17 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   E 
                 
                 - 
                 2 
               
             
             ; 
             
               
                 A 
                 2 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   1.054 
                   ⁢ 
                   E 
                 
                 - 
                 2 
               
             
             ; 
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 A 
                 3 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   1.34143 
                   ⁢ 
                   E 
                 
                 - 
                 4 
               
             
             ; 
             
               
                 A 
                 4 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     - 
                     0.445368 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   E 
                 
                 - 
                 6 
               
             
             ; 
             
               
                 A 
                 5 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   5.92362 
                   ⁢ 
                   E 
                 
                 - 
                 8. 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     If the wavelength of light propagating through the filter is such that each plate introduces half-wavelength retardation δ=2π(m i +1/2), where m i  is the retardation order of the plate, each plate preserves the linear polarization of light, but it “mirrors” the direction of polarization with respect to the plate axis. For these specific wavelengths, the polarization of light through each element of the filter can be easily traced. For example, Table 2 traces the polarization of light through a folded six plate ASF (specific example used in our tests). As can be seen, these specific wavelengths are rejected by the exit polarizer. These are the “notch” wavelengths of the filter. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Polarization states of light after different components of a folded  
               
               
                 {hacek over (S)}olc filter made of six plates (ρ = 7.5°). 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Azimuth  
                 Input 
                 Output 
               
               
                 Element 
                 angle 
                 polarization 
                 polarization 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Entrance polarizer 
                 0 
                 0 
                 transmitted 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Plate 1 
                 ρ 
                 0 
                 2ρ  
                 (+15°) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Plate 2 
                 −ρ   
                 2ρ  
                 (+15°) 
                 −4ρ  
                 (−30°) 
               
               
                 Plate 3 
                 ρ 
                 −4ρ  
                 (−30°) 
                 6ρ  
                 (+45°) 
               
               
                 Plate 4 
                 −ρ   
                 −6ρ  
                 (+45°) 
                 −8ρ  
                 (−60°) 
               
               
                 Plate 5 
                 ρ 
                 −8ρ  
                 (−60°) 
                 10ρ  
                 (+75°) 
               
               
                 Plate 6 
                 −ρ   
                 10ρ  
                 (+75°) 
                 −12ρ  
                 (−90°) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Exit polarizer 
                 0 
                 −90° 
                 Blocked 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Recalling that δ=2π(n o −n e )L/λ, where L is the plate thickness. n o −n e  is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary indices of refraction and λ is the optical wavelength in vacuum, the following approximate expression for the spacing between adjacent notch wavelengths can be obtained: Δλ=λ 2 /2L|n o −n e |. Larger plate thickness L corresponds to closer spacing, Δλ. It is the individual plate thickness and birefringence n o −n e  that determine the notch wavelengths and the wavelength spacing between them. 
     For all other wavelengths, polarization of light after each plate and optical transmission of the ASF can be evaluated using Jones matrix formalism. Using this formalism, a birefringent plate introducing retardation phase δ and rotated by an angle ρ is described by a product of matrices: Ŵ(δ,ρ)={circumflex over (R)}(−ρ)Ŵ(δ){circumflex over (R)}(ρ), where 
                 W   ^     ⁡     (   δ   )       =     [           ⅇ       -   ⅈδ     /   2           0           0         ⅇ     ⅈδ   /   2             ]           
is a matrix of a birefringent plate and
 
                 R   _     ⁡     (   ρ   )       =     [           cos   ⁢           ⁢   ρ           sin   ⁢           ⁢   ρ                 -   sin     ⁢           ⁢   ρ           cos   ⁢           ⁢   ρ           ]           
is a rotation operator. A polarizer lined up at azimuth angle 0 is described by the matrix
 
                 P   ^     x     =     [         1       0           0       0         ]           
A matrix for the entire ASF is described by a product of each component&#39;s matrix:
 
 Ŝ={circumflex over (P)}   x   Ŵ (ρ,δ) Ŵ (−ρ,δ) Ŵ (ρ,δ) . . .  Ŵ (−ρ,δ) Ŵ (ρ,δ) Ŵ (−ρ,δ) {circumflex over (P)}   x  
 
E-field polarization components at the input and at the output of the system are then given by:
 
               (           E     2   ⁢   x                 E     2   ⁢   y             )     =       S   ^     ⁡     (           E     1   ⁢   x                 E     1   ⁢   y             )             
and the overall transmission of the filter is
 
     
       
         
           
             T 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                        
                       
                         E 
                         
                           2 
                           ⁢ 
                           x 
                         
                       
                        
                     
                     2 
                   
                   + 
                   
                     
                        
                       
                         E 
                         
                           2 
                           ⁢ 
                           y 
                         
                       
                        
                     
                     2 
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     
                        
                       
                         E 
                         
                           1 
                           ⁢ 
                           x 
                         
                       
                        
                     
                     2 
                   
                   + 
                   
                     
                        
                       
                         E 
                         
                           1 
                           ⁢ 
                           y 
                         
                       
                        
                     
                     2 
                   
                 
               
               . 
             
           
         
       
     
     An example of such a transmission calculation for a folded ASF is shown in the graph in  FIG. 2  for the case of a folded ASF based on six quartz plates, each 367.6 μm thick, for the range of 210-280 nm. Surface losses and material absorption are neglected. 
     For wavelengths at which the individual birefringent plates act as half or full wave plates, the transmitted light remains linearly polarized after transmission through each plate. For all other wavelengths, the transmitted light becomes elliptically polarized with the orientation of the major axis rotated and the eccentricity changed after each plate. For most of the interval between blocked wavelengths, the final polarization ellipse after transmission through the last plate has the major axis rotated by a small angle and the eccentricity near one. This variation accounts for the structure of the transmission between blocked wavelengths. Table 3 shows the polarization state of light after different components of a folded ASF made of six plates (ρ=7.5°) described by the polarization ellipse: φ is the rotation angle of its major axis and ε is its eccentricity. T is ASF transmission in percents, and illustrates this effect for the wavelengths marked in  FIG. 3 , i.e. for λ=217.95 nm (A). λ=218.50 nm (B) and λ=219.15 nm (C). It is an expanded view for the transmission minimum at ˜217 nm corresponding to m i =20. Marks (+) are placed for wavelengths 217.95 nm (A), 218.50 nm (B) and 219.15 nm (C). 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Polarization states for light of different wavelengths 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 A 
                 B 
                 C 
               
               
                   
                 λ = 217.95    
                 λ = 218.50    
                 λ = 219.15    
               
               
                   
                 T = 96.361%  
                 T = 96.113% 
                 T = 99.362% 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 φ, deg 
                 Ε 
                 φ, deg 
                 Ε 
                 φ, deg 
                 Ε 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Plate 1 
                 10.9 
                 0.993 
                 6.66 
                 0.991 
                 2.23 
                 0.996 
               
               
                 Plate 2 
                 −9.2 
                 0.937 
                 2.39 
                 0.974 
                 3.15 
                 0.999 
               
               
                 Plate 3 
                 −7.36  
                 0.926 
                 −5.72 
                 0.998 
                 2.29 
                 1.000 
               
               
                 Plate 4 
                 11.6 
                 0.989 
                 −4.09 
                 1.000 
                 0.15 
                 0.994 
               
               
                 Plate 5 
                 −1.95  
                 1.000 
                 4.65 
                 0.980 
                 −2.08 
                 1.000 
               
               
                 Plate 6 
                 −9.82  
                 0.996 
                 5.89 
                 0.985 
                 −3.15 
                 0.998 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The width of the notched wavelength region and height of secondary rejection peaks are determined by the number of plates. In practice, material absorption and Fresnel losses at optical surfaces reduce filter transmission and limit the overall number of birefringent plates that can be used. Additional factors that restrict the number of plates are limitations on angular field of view and overall filter length. Optical transmission can be improved, if anti-reflection coatings are used or the birefringent plates are immersed into an index-matching fluid (for quartz, decahydronaphtalene (Decalin), which has refractive index n=1.48 or fluorocarbon FC-104, 3M™, refractive index n=1.27 could be used). 
     Manufacturing and assembly errors degrade filter performance since they affect ASF transmission at the main minima and the minima position. A number of numerical simulations based on the Jones matrix formalism were made for this particular six plate ASF design with randomized variation of the plate&#39;s azimuth angles (ρ) and thicknesses (d) to evaluate filter performance degradation due to these errors. An example of such simulation is shown in  FIG. 4 . It shows simulation results for 20 different six plate ASFs similar to the one shown in Graph. 1 and assembled with thickness tolerance δd=1 μm RMS: and azimuth angle tolerance δ□=0.2° RMS. 
     From these simulations it is observed that: 
     d—errors decrease filter performance at shorter wavelengths more than at longer wavelengths because the same thickness error corresponds to a larger retardation phase error. 
     ρ—errors decrease filter performance uniformly over the whole spectral range of calculation 
     For d=367.6 μm used here, the manufacturing tolerance on plate thickness required to achieve performance reasonably close to the theoretical limit is ˜0.2 μm RMS. Since for quartz at these wavelengths |n o −n e |˜0.011, this is equivalent to ˜0.06 rad phase retardation error for each plate. Therefore, very reasonable assembly accuracy of 1° is sufficient to achieve &gt;100:1 contrast. 
     Since phase retardation depends on the thickness of the plate, the position of the notch wavelengths changes with the propagation path determined by plate thickness and/or tilt. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a modest tuning of the filter by changing its tilt angle. A calculated tuning curve for a tilted filter is shown in  FIG. 5 . It shows ASF tuning by tilting it from the normal incidence. The calculation is an approximation, where optical path variation due to difference between n o  and n e  is neglected. Alternatively, a similar tuning result can be achieved by temperature variation, or application of an external E-field, which affects |n o −n e |. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an ASF assembly  106  according to the invention and test configuration  100  including, as shown, a light source  102  and collimating lens  104  providing multispectral light  106  input to an additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF)  108 . The ASF experimental configuration includes, as shown, an input polarizer  110  providing a beam of linearly polarized light  112 , a stack of at least one (six as shown) quartz plates  114  manually positioned with relative orientations as per Table 2 with ρ=7.5°. The output from these plates  116 , now a combination of linear and elliptical polarized light depending on wavelength, is passed through a polarizing beam splitter cube  118  where selected (designed) wavelengths are rejected  120  while the remaining wavelengths  122  are passed through a fused silica lens  124  and are focused  126  onto the slit of a grating spectrograph  128 . The uncoated UV grade quartz plates had the following specifications: half-waveplate @ 248 nm, order N=16, retardation tolerance=λ/200. Glan-Thompson prisms made of alpha-BBO with specified extinction ratio exceeding 10 −5  were used as broad-band UV polarizers. All optical components had 10 mm clear aperture. A calibrated deuterium are lamp (Model number 63945, Newport/Oriel) was used as a broad-spectrum UV input source. Spectra transmitted by the ASF were acquired using a compact Ocean Optics spectrometer (model #HR4C142) having ˜0.2 nm resolution in the DUV region. All acquired spectra were averaged over 100 independent measurements. Data were not corrected for spectrometer response.  FIG. 7  shows the transmission spectra for a {hacek over (S)}olc filter ( FIG. 7A ) and for the ASF ( FIG. 7B ). As can be seen in Table 4, the experimentally measured notch wavelengths demonstrate excellent agreement with the values, calculated from the quartz dispersion equations. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison of calculated and measured wavelengths  
               
               
                 for ASF transmission minima 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Order 
                 Calc. minimum, nm 
                 Meas. minimum, nm 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 7 
                 459.343359 
                 461.1 
               
               
                 8 
                 412.125361 
                 412.1 
               
               
                 9 
                 375.372082 
                 375.5 
               
               
                 10 
                 346.023505 
                 346.3 
               
               
                 11 
                 322.07773 
                 321.7 
               
               
                 12 
                 302.182866 
                 301.9 
               
               
                 13 
                 285.402832 
                 285.2 
               
               
                 14 
                 271.075828 
                 271.1 
               
               
                 15 
                 258.724991 
                 258.9 
               
               
                 16 
                 248.00000 
                 248.4 
               
               
                 17 
                 238.637583 
                 239.1 
               
               
                 18 
                 230.434057 
                 230.9 
               
               
                 19 
                 223.226556 
                 223.9 
               
               
                 20 
                 216.880201 
                 217.5 
               
               
                 21 
                 211.279988 
                 211.6 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In order to demonstrate that an ASF has performance comparable to an interferometric filter, the ASF assembly and spectroscopy system as shown in  FIG. 8  according to the invention was used to acquire a Raman spectrum of Teflon. As  FIG. 8  illustrates an ASF assembly  214  according to the invention is incorporated in a spectroscopy system  200  having a laser light source  202  with wavelength set at 248.4 nm, matching one of the ASF measured transmission minima. Laser average power on the sample was ˜4 mW. Laser output was linearly polarized with the E-field in the plane of scattering. Laser output  204  was focused with a fused silica lens  206  on the Teflon sample  208 . Scattered light  210  from the Teflon sample, containing both shifted (Raman) and unshifted wavelengths, was collimated by a second fused silica lens  212  directing the scattered light from the sample through the ASF  214 . The ASF  214  performs as previously described with the input polarizer  216  providing a linearly polarized beam  218 . The quartz plate stack  220  (six as shown) produces a beam of elliptically and linearly polarized light  222  that is then incident on the polarizing beam splitting cube  224 . At the final element  224  of the ASF the wavelength shifted light  226  is separated from the unshifted wavelengths and focused by a third fused silica lens  228  onto the entrance slit of grating spectrograph  230  equipped with a 2400 gr/mm grating and an Andor “Newton” CCD camera. Typical camera exposure time was ˜300 sec. The light scattered from the teflon sample without wavelength shift was attenuated by the ASF by more than a factor of ˜200 compared to the Raman shifted signal. An example of the acquired Raman spectrum of Teflon is shown in  FIG. 9 . As can be seen, both Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman bands shifted into the 200-1600 cm −1  region are clearly seen. Though attenuated, the spectrally unshifted light still saturates the CCD, but blooming is not excessive. Intensities of anti-Stokes Raman bands at 291 cm −1 . 383 cm −1  and 729 cm −1  indicate sample temperature T˜310K. 
     An ASF is very promising for configurations where both laser light illuminating sample and Raman signal are transported by optical fibers. Such a configuration is particularly useful for field applications, where a compact and simple arrangement is required. A typical Raman probe configuration involves surface illumination and collection of the backscattered Raman signal. An example of ASF use in such a configuration is shown in  FIG. 10 . The ASF shown in this configuration is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 1(   b ). It serves a dual purpose: (1) the ASF cleans the spectrum of the fiber-delivered laser beam from any Raman signal generated by the fiber material (e.g. fused silica), so that monochromaticity of the laser light on sample is ensured; and (2) the ASF attenuates the spectrally unshifted light scattered by a sample and allows acquisition of the sample Raman spectrum by a fiber-coupled single stage spectrograph. Other ASF configurations (e.g. shown in  FIG. 1)  also could be used to achieve similar results. As shown in  FIG. 10  according to the invention incorporation of an ASF  308  enables a spectroscopy system  300  for delivering filtered light from a fiber coupled source to a sample, collecting the light scattered from the sample, filtering that light and delivering the filtered light to a detector. The light source  302  is coupled via a fiber optic  304  to a collimating lens  306  that delivers this light to the ASF  308 . The light, containing both shifted (produced in passage through the fiber optic&#39;s material) and unshifted wavelengths passes through the input polarizing beamsplitter cube  310  providing a linear polarized beam  312 , then passes through a stack of at least one (six as shown) quartz plates  314  with orientations of their optic axis a previously stated. Light output  316  from the stack of quartz plates now contains a mixture of linear and elliptical polarized light and enters into a second polarizing beamsplitting cube  318  where the shifted wavelengths, added by passage through the input fiber, are rejected  320 . The (now) monochromatic beam  322  is focused by a lens  324  onto a sample  326  and is scattered back along the original path. The backscattered light  328  contains both unshifted light and (Raman) shifted light of various polarization states that is recollimated by the focusing lens  324  and passed back into the ASF  308  where it passes through the beamsplitting cube  318  and emerges as a linearly polarized light beam  330 . Passing through the quartz plate stack  314  the beam becomes a mixture of linear and elliptically polarized light  332  depending on wavelength. The unshifted light passes through the beamsplitting cube  310  while the wavelength shifted light  334 , the light of interest, is diverted to a focusing lens  336  which couples this light into an optical fiber  338  that delivers the light to a spectrograph  340  for analysis. Thus both light input and output are fiber coupled and successfully delivered, filtered, and analyzed. 
     Although the above description covers the type and material of polarizers, birefringent plates and other components, it should be understood that a variety of alternative configurations and materials can be used, especially in the VIS-NIR ranges as the choice of materials is greatly expanded. Particularly, liquid-crystal polarizers or phase retarders which allow filter tunability are available for VIS-NIR. In much of the DUV spectral region (190-300 nm) no alternative notch filter exists. 
     Thus, while the present invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope and spirit of the invention.