This invention relates to a dispersive holographic spectrometer (12) for analyzing radiation from an infrared source (16). The holographic spectrometer (12) comprises a piezoelectric block (40) having a holographic lens (38) on one face, an array of detectors (36) on another face and a pair of vernier electrodes (32, 34) on opposite faces. Radiation from the source (16) incident upon the holographic lens (38) is dispersed into component wavelengths (44, 46) and directed towards the detector array (36). The holographic lens (38) has a holographic interference pattern recorded on it such that radiation of predetermined wavelength components are dispersed sufficiently enough such that radiation of specific wavelengths falls on different detector elements (48) of the detector array (36). By applying a voltage to the electrodes (32, 38), an electric field is created within the piezoelectric block (40) such that it is either compressed or expanded. This change in the piezoelectric block (40) alters the direction of the radiation from the holographic lens (38) to the detector array (36). Therefore, misalignment of the source (16) with the holographic lens (38) can be compensated for such that piezoelectric adjustment of the block (40) will make the radiation of individual wavelengths fall on the desired detector element (48). Further, radiation from different wavelengths can be directed from one detector element to another. The detector array (36) is self-scanning such that an absorption spectrum can be measured and recorded over a range of frequencies. <IMAGE>
