Photo of the Week: Compact Visible/Shortwave Infrared Imaging Spectrometer

Lincoln Laboratory, in collaboration with NASA, developed an imaging spectrometer that maintains state-of-the art optical and signal-to-noise performance in a unit dramatically smaller than other spectrometers. This rugged spectrometer can be implemented as a payload on small satellites and aircraft. The spectrometer's substantial aberration control allows it to image over a wide optical field, making it suitable for a range of Earth-observing applications. Its flat grating for dispersing light of different wavelengths is easier and faster to manufacture than convex or conave gratings of other high-performance spectrometers. This patented technology was featured in a November 2020 issue of Applied Optics.

Photo credit: Glen Cooper/MIT Lincoln Laboratory