Compact snapshot optically replicating and remapping imaging spectrometer (ORRIS) using a focal plane continuous variable filter

In this Letter, a novel snapshot spectral imaging technique, optically replicating and remapping imaging spectrometer, is presented. It is based on the combination of shifting subimages by a specially designed lenslet array (LA) and filtering subimages by a focal plane continuous variable filter (CVF). The 3D datacube is recovered by just using a simple image remapping process. The use of the LA and the focal plane CVF makes the system compact and low in cost. A handheld proof-of-principle prototype has been built and demonstrated; it covers a wavelength range of 380-860 nm with 80 spectral channels with a spatial resolution of 400×400 pixels.