Research on LC-based spectral imaging system for visible band

LC-based spectral imaging is a novel spectral imaging technology using the liquid crystal tunable filter(LCTF), which is a miniaturized device based on the electrically controlled birefringence of nematic liquid crystal. Continuously tuning electrically controlled through a spectral coverage is realized using LCTF under low voltages. Spectral imaging system based on LCTF is a miniaturized, multi-functional and real-time system with high spatial resolution and spectral resolution, which means that more and further information about the Earth and its resources can be acquired for new applications in large-scale mapping and environmental monitoring. LC-based tunable filter with large aperture has been developed utilizing the effect of electric controlled birefringence. Spectral test indicates that this filter can operate on the visible band with average 20 nm FWHM. A small scale spectral imaging system is established based on this tunable filter. Spectral imaging experiments on certain number of samples show that this system can provide continuously, and random-access selection of any wavelength, and has a higher level of resolving power in respect of both imaging and spectral tuning in the visible band, which indicates a brilliant application potentiality in environmental protection, resource detection.