Snapshot Raman Spectral Imager

Applied Quantum Technologies along with its university partner Duke University propose a coded-aperture, multi-aperture snapshot Raman imager. By combining an innovative optical design and advanced compressed sensing algorithms, a snapshot system provides dwell times much shorter than conventional slit-based or tunable-filter based spectral imagers. A short-wave infrared excitation source allows for minimal sample fluorescence, making the system able to cope with target signatures in a wide variety of backgrounds. While the majority of Raman systems available are point-based, having imaging capabilities permits wide area coverage at a fraction of the time of point-based systems. By utilizing compressed sensing algorithms, large amounts of spatial and spectral information can be acquired using the limited pixel counts available to short-wave infrared detector arrays.