Information Approach to Estimation of an Optical Spectral Device Efficiency

An approach that allows to estimate and compare the efficiency of optical spectral devices of various classes is proposed in this paper. This approach was developed in the frame of information theory and the main criterion is the amount of information received by the spectral device during measurement. An exhaustive characteristic of a spectral device is the spread function, which is determined by the error of the device. The relationship between the amount of information received by the spectral device and its error was mathematically determined to estimate the obtained measurement accuracy. The term of information efficiency of a spectral device was introduced. It characterizes the consistency of the properties of the device and the measured process.