Hyperspectral Imaging System: S4
Tornado Spectral Systems develops high performance optical spectrometers and spectral imaging systems incorporating High Throughput Virtual Slit (HTVS) technology. Tornado’s virtual slit (HTVS) technology powers the S4 hyperspectral imaging system to rapidly measure and analyze the spectral composition within its field of view. The S4 can achieve the same spectral resolution as a traditional imaging spectrometer while using a wider slit, or can reach higher resolutions with the same slit width. This allows the slit to be widened with a longer focal length to collect more light with the same spatial resolution.
In addition, HTVS technology can be used in imaging spectrometers to decouple the spectral and spatial resolution dictated by the imaging slit in pushbroom-style instruments. Tornado’s S4 hyperspectral prototype has been used in several standoff Raman applications demonstrating its enhanced capabilities in real-time-monitoring applications. In one application, a package of birth control pills was scanned by a vertical laser line and a hyperspectral Raman image was produced. In another application, Tornado’s S4 hyperspectral prototype was used in a scanning experiment to detect prohibited materials; the substances in each of the bottles containing ethanol were flagged red to indicate a threat.
S4’s design maintains the spatial coherence of the incoming beam resulting in an unmatched throughput/resolution combination for rapid imaging.
S4 delivers 0.8 nm spectral resolution with a 200 μm slit, 0.5 nm with a 100 μm slit and covers the 380-860 nm wavelength range.
Key Benefits:
- Faster data collection due to reduced integration time
- Better signal quality with fixed integration time
- Observe fainter objects at greater distances
- Greater flexibility in design choices