Embodiments are disclosed relating to a refractively-scanning interferometer comprising an aperture that receives an incident light beam at a receiving angle, a beam splitter configured to split the incident light beam into a first beam and a second beam, a first and a second reflector arranged to reflect the first beam and second beam, respectively, towards a combining optical element, and a refractive Optical Path Difference (rOPD) assembly interposed between the beam splitter and the first reflector, wherein the rOPD Assembly refracts the first light beam an even number of times with induced phase discrepancy being a vector sum of a first phase discrepancy induced by a first refraction and a second phase discrepancy induced by a second refraction, the rOPD Assembly being configured such that the first phase discrepancy is substantially opposite in direction to the second phase discrepancy, a portion of the first and second phase discrepancies cancelling one another out to decrease magnitude of the phase discrepancy.

Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be provided that can efficiently detect the amplitude and phase of a spectral modulation. Such exemplary scheme can be combined with self-interference fluorescence to facilitate a highly sensitive depth localization of self-interfering radiation generated within a sample. The exemplary system and method can facilitate a scan-free depth sensitivity within the focal depth range for microscopy, endoscopy and nanoscopy.

A Fourier-transform hyperspectral imaging system may include an optical imaging system configured to produce an image of an object, and an adjustable birefringent common-path interferometer module comprising a movable birefringent element and configured to produce interfering replicas of an input radiation which are delayed from each other by a phase delay adjustable by the moving birefringent element. The interferometer module may be configured to produce collinear replicas for entering optical rays parallel to said optical axis. The hyperspectral imaging system further comprises a two-dimensional light detector configured to receive the replicas and provide digital images of the object depending on said adjustable phase delay. The system also includes an analysis device configured to perform a Fourier Transform of the digital images to obtain a hyperspectral representation of the object.

Embodiments are disclosed relating to a refractively-scanning interferometer comprising an aperture that receives an incident light beam at a receiving angle, a beam splitter configured to split the incident light beam into a first beam and a second beam, a first and a second reflector arranged to reflect the first beam and second beam, respectively, towards a combining optical element, and a refractive Optical Path Difference (rOPD) assembly interposed between the beam splitter and the first reflector, wherein the rOPD Assembly refracts the first light beam an even number of times with induced phase discrepancy being a vector sum of a first phase discrepancy induced by a first refraction and a second phase discrepancy induced by a second refraction, the rOPD Assembly being configured such that the first phase discrepancy is substantially opposite in direction to the second phase discrepancy, a portion of the first and second phase discrepancies cancelling one another out to decrease magnitude of the phase discrepancy.

Embodiments are disclosed relating to a refractively-scanning interferometer comprising an aperture that receives an incident light beam at a receiving angle, a beam splitter configured to split the incident light beam into a first beam and a second beam, a first and a second reflector arranged to reflect the first beam and second beam, respectively, towards a combining optical element, and a refractive Optical Path Difference (rOPD) assembly interposed between the beam splitter and the first reflector, wherein the rOPD Assembly refracts the first light beam an even number of times with induced phase discrepancy being a vector sum of a first phase discrepancy induced by a first refraction and a second phase discrepancy induced by a second refraction, the rOPD Assembly being configured such that the first phase discrepancy is substantially opposite in direction to the second phase discrepancy, a portion of the first and second phase discrepancies cancelling one another out to decrease magnitude of the phase discrepancy.

A Fourier-transform hyperspectral imaging system may include an optical imaging system configured to produce an image of an object, and an adjustable birefringent common-path interferometer module comprising a movable birefringent element and configured to produce interfering replicas of an input radiation which are delayed from each other by a phase delay adjustable by the moving birefringent element. The interferometer module may be configured to produce collinear replicas for entering optical rays parallel to said optical axis. The hyperspectral imaging system further comprises a two-dimensional light detector configured to receive the replicas and provide digital images of the object depending on said adjustable phase delay. The system also includes an analysis device configured to perform a Fourier Transform of the digital images to obtain a hyperspectral representation of the object.

A system and process scans a target area at a distance of 3-30 m for one or more materials. Scanning is performed by a coherent transmit beam aimed with the help of a thermal camera. The active source of the beam is a supercontinuum (SC) laser. The transmitted source beam is modulated by a high-speed Fourier-transform spectrometer prior to interaction with the target. Target reflected source beam is detected by an infrared detector, along with a reference portion of the transmitted source beam, as a series of interferograms; passed through a digitizer for digitizing the interferograms; and processed to producing spectrograms, wherein the spectrograms are indicative of one or more materials on the target.

A hyperspectral imaging system has a processor to receive hyperspectral imaging parameters and produce a series of images to be acquired at a series of retardances at a series of retardance times, a hyperspectral imaging component having an input polarizer to polarize an incoming beam of light, a liquid crystal variable retarder to receive the polarized beam of light and to produce wavelength-dependent polarized light, an output polarizer to receive the wavelength-dependent polarized light and to convert polarization state information into a form detectable as light intensity, a voltage source connected to the liquid crystal variable retarder, and a retardance controller. The retardance controller receives the series of retardances at a series of retardance times and produces a series of voltages at a series of voltage times to apply to the liquid crystal variable retarder. A focal plane array, synchronized with the retardance controller, receives the light in a form detectable as light intensity and converts the light to a series of images.

A hyperspectral imaging system has a processor to receive hyperspectral imaging parameters and produce a series of images to be acquired at a series of retardances at a series of retardance times, a hyperspectral imaging component having an input polarizer to polarize an incoming beam of light, a liquid crystal variable retarder to receive the polarized beam of light and to produce wavelength-dependent polarized light, an output polarizer to receive the wavelength-dependent polarized light and to convert polarization state information into a form detectable as light intensity, a voltage source connected to the liquid crystal variable retarder, and a retardance controller. The retardance controller receives the series of retardances at a series of retardance times and produces a series of voltages at a series of voltage times to apply to the liquid crystal variable retarder. A focal plane array, synchronized with the retardance controller, receives the light in a form detectable as light intensity and converts the light to a series of images.

A system and process scans a target area at a distance of 3-30 m for one or more materials. Scanning is performed by a coherent transmit beam aimed with the help of a thermal camera. The active source of the beam is a supercontinuum (SC) laser. The transmitted source beam is modulated by a high-speed Fourier-transform spectrometer prior to interaction with the target. Target reflected source beam is detected by an infrared detector, along with a reference portion of the transmitted source beam, as a series of interferograms; passed through a digitizer for digitizing the interferograms; and processed to producing spectrograms, wherein the spectrograms are indicative of one or more materials on the target.