Analysis of computed tomographic imaging spectrometers. I. Spatial and spectral resolution

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Image Processing
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Traditional whisk-broom and push-broom imaging spectrometers have well-understood noise and artifact behaviors.
• Computed tomographic imaging spectrometry (CTIS) presents unique measurement principles, leading to unfamiliar noise characteristics and data artifacts.
• A lack of standardized terminology hinders the discussion of resolution and performance in CTIS instruments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review computed tomographic imaging spectrometry (CTIS) measurement systems and analyze their performance.
• To establish a vocabulary for discussing resolution in CTIS instruments.
• To illustrate common artifacts in CTIS reconstructed data and provide a practical measure for spectral resolution.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of CTIS measurement systems and data acquisition.
• Illustration and categorization of artifacts in reconstructed CTIS data.
• Development of a rule-of-thumb metric for spectral resolution in CTIS.
• Investigation of computational methods to improve data reconstruction speed.

Main Results:

• Identification and explanation of characteristic artifacts in CTIS reconstructed data.
• Proposal of a practical, rule-of-thumb method for assessing spectral resolution in CTIS.
• Demonstration that redundant projections in raw CTIS images can be ignored without compromising reconstruction quality.
• Significant improvement in data reconstruction speed achieved through optimized projection utilization.

Conclusions:

• CTIS performance analysis and artifact characterization are crucial for instrument development and data interpretation.
• A standardized vocabulary and practical resolution metrics are needed for the CTIS field.
• Optimizing data reconstruction by removing redundant projections offers a viable method for accelerating CTIS data processing.