Imaging spectroscopy with digital micromirrors

The availability of optical MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) is promising to revolutionize optical instrument design. We are developing a multiobject imaging spectrometer based on a commercially available optical MEMS--the Texas Instrument's Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)^TM. The micromirror array is laced at an image plane of an optical system, and is used as a spatial light modulator to redirect portions of the image into the spectrograph. The programmability of the micromirror array allows the creation of arbitrary `slit' patterns as input to the spectrograph. In addition, by controlling the dwell time of each micromirror individually, it is possible to adaptively extend the dynamic range of the spectral imaging system.