Snapshot imaging spectropolarimetry

Integrating a channeled spectropolarimeter with a computed tomographic imaging spectrometer (CTIS) allows the creation of a snapshot imaging spectropolarimeter, capturing the complete spatially and spectrally-resolved Stokes vectors of a scene in a single data frame. The main body of the research contained here is focused on finding ways to improve the CTIS measurement technique. The first effort is a reworking of the instrument's calibration procedure, followed by a survey and comparison of ideas for alternative CTIS designs. The second effort develops a new approach to CTIS reconstruction that opens up ways to improve accuracy and speed. The third effort describes how to optimize channeled spectropolarimetry for various applications. Experimental results from the instrument illustrate the improvements obtained from using the new methods, showing its current capabilities and limitations.