The Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment (CIBER): the Narrow Band
  Spectrometer
  We have developed a near-infrared spectrometer designed to measure the
absolute intensity of the Solar 854.2 nm CaII Fraunhofer line, scattered by
interplanetary dust, in the Zodiacal light spectrum. Based on the known
equivalent line width in the Solar spectrum, this measurement can derive the
Zodiacal brightness, testing models of the Zodiacal light based on morphology
that are used to determine the extragalactic background light in absolute
photometry measurements. The spectrometer is based on a simple high-resolution
tipped filter placed in front of a compact camera with wide-field refractive
optics to provide the large optical throughput and high sensitivity required
for rocket-borne observations. We discuss the instrument requirements for an
accurate measurement of the absolute Zodiacal light brightness, the measured
laboratory characterization, and the instrument performance in flight.
