[A wide-field push-broom hyperspectral imager based on curved prism]

A wide-field pushbroom hyperspectral imager covering short-wavelength infrared range is presented, which can be carried by space borne or airborne platform for remote sensing, acquiring hyperspectral data cube, and analyzing substance compositions and physicochemical properties. Curved prism which simultaneously possesses the functions of dispersion and imaging is used as the prismatic element, and the combination with Offner relay configuration substantially simplifies the design of spectrometer. Compared to conventional dispersive spectral imagers, this design is compact, light-weighted, and small-sized, and can efficiently correct unavoidable spectral line curve (smile) and spectral band (keystone or frown) by prismatic dispersion Compared to grating spectral imagers of the same configuration, the energy utilization efficiency of this design is much higher. The paraxial aberration theory and imaging characteristics of Offner relay configuration is briefly described. The optical layout and image evaluations, including spatial and spectral dimensions, are illustrated respectively, according to Monte Carlo ray-tracing results of seven principal wavelengths.