Angularly Multiplexed Spectral Imager

Techical advances in two dimensional staring focal plan arrays (FPSs) have stimulated research to utilize FPSs in spectrometer instrumentation with the goal of increased spectral, spatial and temporal resolution. Conventional staring FPA spectrometers create a three dimensional image (two spatial and one spectral) by either using a sequence of narrow band spectral filters to slice the spectral domain or to image one spatial and one spectral dimension while scanning the remaining spatial direction. These conventional approaches are inherently inefficient because they discard available photons. We propose to investigate and develop a new photon efficient spectral imaging technique developed by the Air Force Rome Laboratory that multiplexes the spatial and spectral information onto a FPA via a rotating prism, then demultiplexes the resultant image to obtain the spectral images. We propose to define and design an imaging spectrometer for the SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands. The spectrometer will be designed to offer either platinum silicide, HgCdTe or uncooled bolometeric infrared detector technology in a self-contained imaging and analysis system capable of supporting DOD and commercial applications.