Reflectances from a supercontinuum laser-based instrument: hyperspectral, polarimetric and angular measurements

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Active hyperspectral systems require accurate optical characterization of materials.
• Instrument calibration is crucial for reliable hyperspectral data acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel supercontinuum laser-based instrument for hyperspectral measurements.
• To detail the instrument's design, calibration, and performance.
• To measure hyperspectral polarimetric and angular reflectances of man-made materials.

Main Methods:

• Development of a supercontinuum laser source.
• Design of a hyperspectral instrument for polarimetric and angular reflectance measurements.
• Calibration procedures for the optical instrument.
• Measurement of reflectance properties for various materials.

Main Results:

• The instrument covers a spectral range of 480-1000 nm with 1 nm resolution.
• Full spectral polarization configurations are achievable.
• Accurate hyperspectral polarimetric and angular reflectance data were obtained for reference and man-made materials.
• Physical properties like positivity, energy conservation, and Helmholtz reciprocity were verified.

Conclusions:

• The developed instrument provides fast and accurate hyperspectral characterization.
• The system is suitable for calibrating active hyperspectral systems.
• The measurements validate the physical principles of reflectance.