A hyperspectral remote sensing instrument employing a novel near-infrared supercontinuum light source has been developed for active illumination and identification of targets. The supercontinuum is generated in a standard normal dispersion multi-mode fiber and has 16 W total optical output power covering 1000 nm to 2300 nm spectral range. A commercial 256-channel infrared spectrometer was used for broadband infrared detection. The feasibility of the presented hyperspectral measurement approach was investigated both indoors and in the field. Reflection spectra from several diffusive targets were successfully measured and a measurement range of 1.5 km was demonstrated.

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An active hyperspectral sensor (AHS) was developed for target detection and classification applications. AHS measures light scattered from a target, illuminated by a broadband near-infrared supercontinuum (SC) light source. Spectral discrimination is based on a voltage-tunable MEMS Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI). The broadband light is filtered by the FPI prior to transmitting, allowing for a high spectral-power density within the eye-safety limits. The approach also allows for a cost-efficient correction of the SC instability, employing a non-dispersive reference detector. A precision of 0.1% and long-term stability better than 0.5% were demonstrated in laboratory tests. The prototype was mounted on a car for field measurements. Several road types and objects were distinguished based on the spectral response of the sensor targeted in front of the car.

A tunable laser absorption spectrometer (TLAS) was developed for the simultaneous measurement of δ13C and δD values of methane (CH4). A mid-infrared interband cascade laser (ICL) emitting around 3.27 µm was used to measure the absorption of the three most abundant isotopologues in CH4 with a single, mode-hop free current sweep. The instrument was validated against methane samples of fossil and biogenic origin with known isotopic composition. Three blended mixtures with varied biogenic content were prepared volumetrically, and their δ13C and δD values were determined. Analysis demonstrated that, provided the isotopic composition of the source materials was known, the δ13C and δD values alone were sufficient to determine the biogenic content of the blended samples to within 1.5%.

We have developed an active hyperspectral imager based on a tunable near-infrared supercontinuum light source. Non-dispersive wavelength selection of the supercontinuum laser source is achieved with a microelectromechanical Fabry–Perot interferometer. The tunable light source enables the use of any monochromatic imaging sensor with a suitable spectral sensitivity for hyperspectral imaging. The imager is characterized and demonstrated in the laboratory for remote detection of ice.