Variable-retardance, Fourier-transform imaging spectropolarimeters for visible spectrum remote sensing

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Remote Sensing
• Imaging Science

Background:

• Hyperspectral imaging captures detailed spectral information across a scene.
• Polarimetric imaging characterizes the polarization state of light, revealing material properties.
• Integrating spatial, spectral, and polarimetric information offers a comprehensive understanding of targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an imaging, variable-retardance, Fourier-transform spectropolarimeter.
• To demonstrate independent characterization of spatial, spectral, and polarimetric information.
• To showcase the device's capability for collecting spectropolarimetric data of canonical targets.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a variable-retardance, Fourier-transform spectropolarimeter design.
• Achieved a spectral resolution of approximately 225 cm(-1) for hyperspectral capabilities.
• Employed push broom scanning and serial collection for spectropolarimetric data acquisition.

Main Results:

• Successfully created spectropolarimetric images of laboratory-based canonical targets (spheres, cylinders).
• Demonstrated independent characterization of spatial, spectral, and polarimetric information.
• Validated the feasibility of collecting spectropolarimetric data for field imaging.

Conclusions:

• The developed spectropolarimeter effectively integrates spatial, spectral, and polarimetric measurements.
• The push broom scanning approach is suitable for collecting spectropolarimetric data of field images.
• Future parallelized collection strategies could enable near-real-time imaging of real-world targets.