Patent ID: 7280217

Claim:
An interferometer for analyzing a radiation beam, the interferometer comprising: a rigid frame structured to rotate about an axis; a beam splitter structured and disposed to reflect a first portion of the beam and to pass a second portion of the beam; a first planar mirror disposed to reflect said first portion of the beam after reflection from said beam splitter; a first angular mirror disposed and structured to reflect said first portion of the beam after reflection from said first planar mirror; a first end mirror segment structured and disposed to reflect said first portion of the beam following reflection from said first angular mirror, wherein said beam splitter, said first planar mirror, said first angular mirror and said first end mirror segment communicate to pass said first portion of the beam back to said beam splitter following reflection from said first end mirror segment; a second planar mirror disposed to reflect said second portion of the beam after passage through said beam splitter, a second angular mirror disposed and structured to reflect said second portion of the beam after reflection from said second planar mirror; and a second end mirror segment structured and disposed to reflect said second portion of the beam following reflection from said second angular mirror, wherein said beam splitter, said second planar mirror, said second angular mirror and said second end mirror segment communicate to pass said second portion of the beam back to said beam splitter following reflection from said second end mirror segment, wherein at least one of said first planar mirror, said first angular mirror said second planar mirror, and said second angular mirror are mounted to said rigid frame, wherein said rigid frame comprises a first rigid structure and a second rigid structure, wherein said beam splitter, said first planar mirror, and said second planar mirror are mounted on said first rigid structure, and said first and said second angular mirrors are mounted on said second rigid structure wherein said second rigid structure is constructed to rotate about said axis.