Field deployable pushbroom hyperspectral imaging polarimeter
Hyperspectral imaging polarimetry enables both the spectrum and its spectrally-resolved state of polarization to be measured. This information is important to identify material properties for various applications in remote sensing and agricultural monitoring. In this paper, we describe the design and performance of a ruggedized, field deployable Hyperspectral Imaging Polarimeter (HIP), designed for wavelengths spanning the visible to near infrared (450-800 nm). An entrance slit was used to sample the scene in a pushbroom scanning mode across a 30 degree vertical by 110 degree horizontal field of view. Furthermore, athermalized achromatic retarders were implemented in a channel spectrum generator to measure the linear Stokes parameters. The mechanical and optical layout of the system and its peripherals are provided, in addition to the results of the sensor's spectral and polarimetric calibration. Finally, field measurements are also provided and an error analysis conducted. With its present calibration, the sensor has an absolute polarimetric error of 2.5% RIVIS and a relative spectral error of 2.3% RMS.