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SSGPO has developed a novel dual octave hyperspectral imaging spectrometer. To address the critical parameters of weight, volume and power consumption the system concept combines ultralightweight Sic optics and structures for front-end telescope and spectrometer, emerging dual-band FPA technology and micro dewar I electronics to form the sensor engine and a novel spectrometer ,design form which utilizes the first and second diffractive orders from a flat blazed grating. An all aluminum ground demonstration spectrometer was designed, fabricated and tested. This cost effective hardware solution consisted of a 4-mirror spectrometer design form with a replicated flat blazed grating, B2.35 at the slit and f/4 at the image plane. The optical design provided hyperspectral imagery in two spectral bands simultaneously, 3.5 to 6 microns (mid-wave infrared) and 7 to 12 microns (long-wave infrared) for a focal plane array format of 320 spectral bands and 240 spatial bands. The delivered hardware provided U10 RMS wavefront error at 3 microns. The dual octave spectrometer provides a significant improvement in the weight, volume, and power requirements for hyperspectral imaging spectrometers. This development will enable next generation surveillance and reconnaissance optical instruments for space and air based platforms.
Schwartz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.