Optical Component Tradeoffs
===========================

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The main grating tradeoff is between simple alignment and compact packaging.

Transmission Grating
--------------------

A transmission-grating layout is mechanically simpler, but the required linear
optical path was not compatible with the target enclosure footprint.

Reflective Grating
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A reflective blazed grating in a Czerny-Turner geometry was selected because it
fits a more compact path and follows common spectrometer practice. The accepted
cost is higher alignment sensitivity.

VPH Grating
-----------

A volume phase holographic grating can provide high efficiency and low stray
light, but the cost and bandwidth constraints make it a poor fit for this
prototype.

Other Optical Sensitivities
---------------------------

Mirror coating, grating efficiency, slit width, and filter transmission all
affect the measured intensity response. Those effects must be represented in
the response-correction workflow rather than treated as software display issues
only.