A laboratory prototype spectral/spatial interferometer has been constructed
to demonstrate the feasibility of the double Fourier technique at Far Infrared
(FIR) wavelengths (0.15 - 1 THz). It is planned to use this demonstrator to
investigate and validate important design features and data processing methods
for future astronomical FIR interferometer instruments. In building this
prototype we have had to address several key technologies to provide an end-end
system demonstration of this double Fourier interferometer. We report on the
first results taken when viewing single slit and double slit sources at the
focus of a large collimator used to simulate real sources at infinity. The
performance of the prototype instrument for these specific field geometries is
analyzed to compare with the observed interferometric fringes and to
demonstrate image reconstruction capabilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in Applied Optic