Computed spectroscopy using segmented apertures

A novel technique for imaging spectroscopy is introduced. The technique makes use of an optical imaging system with a segmented aperture and intensity detector array on the imaging plane. The point spread function (PSF) of such a system can be adjusted by modifying the path lengths from the subapertures to the image plane, and the shape of the resulting point spread function will vary as a function of wavenumber. An image reconstruction approach is taken to convert multiple recorded pan-chromatic images with different wavenumber-varying point spread functions into a hyperspectral data set. Thus, the technique described here is a new form of computed imaging.