Scientists have created a compact spectral singlet lens that turns standard cameras into hyperspectral ones, reducing system size and complexity. This breakthrough could expand hyperspectral imaging into portable applications, with future improvements underway.
The information we gather shapes our understanding and perspectives of the world. For centuries, optics has sought to interpret the multidimensional data around us through the “toolbox” of light. In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton introduced the lens imaging formula and conducted his famous color spectrum experiment, laying foundational insights in the field.
Since then, lenses and spectrometers have been extensively studied as essential optical components for capturing information. Cascading these two components can allow us to acquire more information – both spatial and spectral data. However, such a configuration leads to tradeoffs among device footprint, spectral resolution, and imaging quality, impeding portability and miniaturization of hyperspectral cameras.
A Breakthrough in Hyperspectral Imaging
In a new paper published in Light: Science & Application, a collaborative team of scientists from Wuhan University and Nanjing University have introduced a planar spectral singlet lens that unifies two distinct functions – optical imaging and computational spectrometry – into a single, ultra-compact planar device. With this spectral lens, a standard camera can be easily upgraded to a hyperspectral camera by replacing the original lens with the spectral lens, without the need of changing other parts in the camera.
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