Study on Optical Design of All-reflective Fourier Transform Imaging

Spectrometer

LIANG Min-yong*, LIAO Ning-fang

National Laboratory of Color Science and Engineering, School of Information Science and
Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081,China

ABSTRACT

The Fourier Transform Imaging Spectrometer (FTIS) used for remote sensing has been developed rapidly in the past two
decades. Most of the Temporarily Modulated FTIS and the Spatially Modulated FTIS include a beam splitter structure,
such as Sagnac prism or double refraction crystal beam splitter. The material of the beam splitter which is optical glass,
crystalline materials or plastic optical materials all have the transmission limitation, so the spectrum range would be
limited; the transparent material also would cause the chromatic aberration. We presented an all-reflective optical
structure based on the Fresnel double mirror interference structure that could overcome these two shortcomings. The
three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescope is employed to realize all-reflective fore-optics, it has a compact structure,
wide field of view (FOV) and competent modulation transfer function (MTF). An abaxial parabolic-cylindrical mirror
has been designed to focus the interference fringes onto the plane focal array (FPA) which would increase the signal to
noise ratio (SNR).

Keywords: Imaging spectrum, optical design, optical structure, all-reflective, interference fringes

1.INTRODUCTION
In remote sensing field, the imaging spectrometers obtain three dimensional data cube of two dimensional scene,
including two dimensional spatial information and one dimensional spectral information. They may be divided into
classes1 based on two aspects: the method by which they obtain spatial information, and the method by which they obtain
spectral information. Methods of acquiring spatial information include whiskbroom, push-broom, staring, and a new
class we refer to as windowing. A whiskbroom scanning instrument employs a zero-dimensional FOV which scans the
object in both the along-track and cross-track directions, while a push-broom scanning instrument scans a
one-dimensional FOV in the along-track direction only. A staring instrument employs a two-dimensional FOV which
remains fixed on the object. The windowing instruments that employ a two-dimensional FOV which moves across the
object in the along-track direction. Methods of acquiring spectral information include the filtering, dispersive, and
interferometric techniques2. Dispersive instruments may use either a prism or a grating. By interferometric we refer to
Fourier-transform spectrometers (FTS) employing two-beam interferometers such as the Michelson, Mach-Zender, or
Sagnac.

* [email protected] Phone 010-68912524(21) 13641140880

International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2007:

Optoelectronic System Design, Manufacturing, and Testing, edited by Liwei Zhou
Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6624, 66240C, (2008) · 0277-786X/08/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.791063

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6624 66240C-1

Among the existing interferometric Imaging Spectrometers3,4,5, both the Temporarily Modulated imaging spectrometer
and the Spatially Modulated imaging spectrometer include beam splitting interference structure, such as Sagnac prism
and double refraction crystal6,7,8,9. When image quality, transmission and stable calibration are of greater concern than
size and cost, the obvious choice for eliminating chromatic aberration is an all-reflective fore-optics10. Especially for
common aperture visible and near infrared (VNIR) and short wave infrared (SWIR) systems, the spectral range is too
wide for any refractive design with anti-reflection coatings to be practical. Moreover these refractive materials do not
have a uniform response to all response wavenumbers. As a result, the degree of modulation would be decreased, and the
signal to noise ratio (SNR) would be reduced.

We presented an all-reflective FTIS that could solve these problems. The Fresnel double mirror consisted the
interference structure. Compared to amplitude splitting, the wave front splitting double-mirror spectrometer avoids using
a beam splitter and forms an instrument especially suited for the detection of broad band radiation. It could be used for
visible and near infrared (VNIR), short wave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) without causing the chromatic
aberration, meanwhile, it keeps the Jacquinot and Fellgett advantages1 of the FTIS.

2.ALL-REFLECTIVE SPECTROMETER PRINCIPLE

The optical structure of all-reflective Fourier transform imaging spectrometer is shown in Figure 1. It consists of an
all-reflective three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescope, an entrance slit, Fresnel double mirror, reflective collimating
system, reflective cylindrical system and focal plane array (FPA) detector. The incidence beam is first imaged onto the
entrance silt by the TMA telescope system, and then the wavefront is split by the Fresnel double mirror, and it is
collimated by the collimating system, then through the cylindrical system to image the interference fringes onto the FPA.

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 Fig. 1. The optical structure of all-reflective Fourier transform imaging spectrometer

The interferogram detected by FPA could be written as:

∞
I D (l ) = ∫ B(ν ) exp( j 2πν l )dν = FT {B(ν )}
−∞

（ 1）

In equation, the I D (l ) stands for interference fringes, B (ν ) is the spectrum of the object, and l is optic path

difference (OPD). By using the Fourier transform algorithm, we could reconstruct the spectrum of the object which could
be written as:
∞
B (ν ) = FT −1{I D (l )} = ∫I
−∞
D (l ) exp(− j 2πlν )dl

（2）

In the cross-track direction, the image system collects both the spatial and spectral information simultaneously and
through the motion of push-broom the other dimensional spatial information of the object would be collected.

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 3.SYSTEM OPTICAL DESIGN
3.1Fore-optics

We designed an all-reflective fore-optics for the imaging spectrometer. When image quality, transmission and stable
calibration are of greater concern than size and cost, the obvious choice for eliminating chromatic aberration is an
all-reflective fore-optics. Especially for common aperture VNIR and SWIR systems, the spectral range is too wide for
any refractive design with anti-reflection coatings to be practical. Modified Ritchey-Chretien (R-C) Cassegrains are the
choice for a compact, low-cost, long focal length design, with minimal refractive elements. The R-C on-axis aspheric
mirrors can be easily generated and polished. The main advantage of the R-C with glass optics, compared to off-axis
designs, is improved manufacturability from an axi-symmetric optomechanical design, and the alignment of on-axis is
easier compare to the off-axis designs10. The shortcomings of the R-C, compared to an off-axis design, are an obscured
aperture, baffle complexity, and increased primary size for the same pupil area. In the R-C, additional optics must be
incorporated after the secondary, to meet telecentricity and field flattening. Obscured apertures are also not permissible
for infrared systems with narcissus constraints (warm optics emissions), since the detector will see the emitted flux
reflected back from the secondary. Even for the SWIR, a narcissus analysis is recommended for wavelengths greater than
2.35-microns.

(a) Y/Z view (b) Ortho view

Fig. 2. Layout of the TMA

Three-mirror anastigmat telescopes designs are ideal for push-broom systems since they can meet image quality, field
curvature, and telecentricity, and provide sufficient places for stray light baffles without additional optics. As a
conceptual design example, an all-reflective three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescope is illustrated in Figure 2, with a
253 mm effective focal length and f/2.5 aperture. The off-axis asphere surface data is shown in Table 1. The telescope
has a 3-degree field of view in cross-track direction.

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 Table 1. Surface parameters of TMA telescope
Surface Radius(mm) Conic Constant(K) Thickness(mm) Aperture(mm)

1 -301.437 -0.835 -136.265 78.009

2 -82.669 -4.118 149.290 15.025

3 -127.801 -0.125 -131.161 68.417

The entrance slit defines the field of view and is scanned to acquire the full two-dimensional scene. The slit width is
determined by the effective detector pixel size of FPA. The TMA telescope images the object onto the entrance slit, the
spatial resolution across-track direction is transferred by the fore-optics. The Modulation transfer function (MTF) of
TMA has direct influence on the image quality. Figure 3 shows the MTF of TMA telescope, it’s better than 80cycles/mm
at 0.4 modulation.
DIFFRACTION LIMIT
F/2.5, 1x3 dg, 3 mir Y
X (0.000,0.000) DEG
ror anastigmat Y
X (0.500,0.000) DEG
WAVELENGTH WEIGHT
Y (0.500,0.500) DEG
GEOMETRICAL MTF X 500.0 NM 1
Y (1.500,0.500) DEG
X
ORA 28-May-07 Y
X (1.500,-0.50) DEG
DEFOCUSING 0.00000
1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

M
O 0.6
D
U
L 0.5
A
T
I
O 0.4 80 CYCLES/MM at 0.4 Modulation
N
0.3

0.2

0.1

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

SPATIAL FREQUENCY (CYCLES/MM)

Fig. 3. Modulation of TMA telescope in different field of view

3.2Interference optics

The Fresnel double-mirror is employed to realize all-reflective interference optical structure, it is based on the principle
of the wave-front split interference. Optical layout of a double-mirror interferometer is shown in Figure 4. The incidence
beam is divided into two overlapping beams by the Fresnel double-mirror, we put FPA in the overlapping zone, and then
the interferogram is collected by the FPA. Figure 5 shows the interference fringes of white LED light source. The optical
path difference (OPD) of the interferogram has the direct influence on spectral resolution. The design spectral resolution

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requirements of this instrument is 100cm-1 , the max OPD across FPA is 0.01cm, based on these requirements, we set the
Fresnel double-mirror at small angle of 0.32 degree.

Fig. 4. Schematic diagram of Fresnel double-mirror interference

Fig. 5. The Fresnel double-mirror interference fringes of white LED light source

The cylindrical mirror is employed to image spatial information in the slit length direction, and the interference
dimension would not be influenced. Because the cylindrical mirror focuses in one dimension but do not affect the
incidence beam in the other dimension. In this system, the spatial resolution that parallel slit length direction should be
imaged onto the FPA, and the interference fringes would be collected perpendicular to the slit length direction by the
FPA. The cylindrical mirror should be off-axis designed because of the reflective optical path. The optical layout of
parabolic-cylindrical mirror is shown in Figure 6. The design parameters of parabolic- cylindrical mirror are shown in
Table 2.

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 (a) Y/Z view (b) Ortho view
Fig. 6. Layout of the off-axis parabolic-cylindrical mirror
Table 2. The design parameters of parabolic-cylindrical mirror
Surface EFL(mm) Material Coating
Aperture（mm）

Paraboloid-Toroidal 100 K9 Gold 40×60

(cylindrical)

To test the imagery quality of the cylindrical mirror, we designed one-dimensional MTF testing experiment. The test
object was lighted by Halogen Lamp, the object’s fringes should be parallel to the generatrix of the cylindrical mirror.
We put the FPA on the off-axis imaging position. The test object and images are shown in Figure 7. Compare to the
normal lens, the cylindrical mirror only images in vertical dimension when the generatrix parallels to the horizon. The
image 1 and image 2 show the horizontal fringes that imaged by the cylindrical mirror. From the image of test object 2, it
shows that the horizontal spatial information could not be distinguished on the FPA. In the experiment, the cylindrical
mirror could distinguish 60 line pair (lp) in 0.86 degree, the MFT is better than 40 lp/mm at 0.3 modulation. It’s
competent for the FPA that has the pixel size larger than 12.5 micron.

(a) Test object 1 (b) Image 1

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 .......
.......
......I
U.....'
(c) Test object 2 (d) Image 2
Fig. 7. One-dimensional imagery quality of cylindrical mirror

4.CONCLUSIONS
All-reflective fore-optics for spectral imaging system requires special considerations, such as chromatic aberration and
off-axis. The three mirror astigmatism (TMA) is a good choice for the system. It has a wide field of view and competent
MTF for the imaging spectrometer. As the single-point diamond turning and computer polishing manufacturing
technologies continue to reduce the cost of off-axis aspheric and toroidal mirrors. The Fresnel double-mirror interference
structure based on the wave-front split interference would not cause the chromatic aberration, and has wide spectral
range. The off-axis parabolic-cylindrical mirror could increase the SNR by focusing the interferogram onto the FPA.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of National Natural Science Foundation project: No.60377042 and the
Chinese National 863 Foundation project: No.2006AA12Z124.

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