The high spectral resolution mode of the SpicA FAR-infrared Instrument (SAFARI) is enabled by inserting a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), based on a Martin-Puplett interferometer, into the signal path of the instrument. The cryogenic FTS mechanism (FTSM) enables linear scans of two back-to-back rooftop mirrors sharing a common apex. ABB Inc. is under contract with the Canadian Space Agency to develop and test at 4 K an FTSM Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) for TRL-5 demonstration. The main SAFARI FTSM performance drivers are the stringent mechatronic demands (position stability of roof-top mirrors in step scan mode <10 nm RMS, velocity jitter in constant velocity mode <1% RMS at 85 µm/s, linear stroke <34 mm, error on position feedback laser metrology <10 nm RMS) and ultra-low photon leakage level from laser metrology (<1 pW), severely constrained by a tight thermal budget (heat dissipation <1.5 mW) under a specific micro-vibration environment (30 µg/√Hz external), all at cryogenic temperatures (4 K). In this paper, we describe the FTSM EDU developed and built at ABB with its laser metrology sensor. The FTSM EDU is based on a novel cryogenic design presented in 2020 using a reactionless and long-stroke flexure-based 4-bar linkage with stiffness compensation and a custom moving magnet actuator. Results from FTSM EDU room-temperature characterization and cryogenic proof-of-concept tests conducted at University of Lethbridge as a key step towards TRL-5 demonstration are discussed to assess the compliance of this novel design to the challenging cryogenic SAFARI FTSM performance requirements.
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