Title: Tunable Light-guide Image Processing Snapshot Spectrometer (TuLIPSS) for Earth Observations
Presenting Author: Tomasz S. Tkaczyk
Organization: Rice University
Co-Author(s): T. S. Tkaczyk, D. Alexander, J. C. Luvall, Ye Wang, J. G.Dwight, M. E. Pawlowski, B. Howell and P. Tatum, R.-I. Stoian, Shuna Cheng, Antoun Daou

Abstract:
A tunable light-guide hyperspectral image processing snapshot spectrometer (TuLIPSS) for hyperspectral Earth Science Research and Observation is being developed through a NASA Instrument Incubator program NNH16ZDA001N-IIP at Rice University in collaboration with the Marshall Space Flight Center. TuLIPSS will be capable of acquiring instantaneous images across the visible and near-IR, within a flexible spatial/spectral resolution tradespace. This is accomplished using custom adaptable fiber optic image processing bundles whose input is in the form of a densely-packed coherent waveguide. The optical output from each waveguide, or line of waveguides, can be flexibly designated as spatial or spectral, enabling a wide variety of observational configurations. Thus, the system's innovative aspect is the controlled repositioning of pixels between the input and output of waveguide coherent structures, allowing efficient multi-dimensional (x, y, lambda) snapshot imaging and operational flexibility. The tunable waveguide works in connection with adaptive band and spectral sampling components. In addition, an active spatial filter is being considered to allow accommodation of different dynamic ranges for different spatial-spectral cube region of interest - ROI. This flexibility enables a range of spatial/spectral configurations (e.g. specific sub-bands around target lines, prioritization of spatial or spectral resolution, improving signal to noise ratio, ROI defined dynamic range adjustment etc.) to satisfy specific observational goals across a wide array of applications, including land use, water impacts, atmospheric pollution, and lunar and Martian mineralogy.