A compact hyperspectral camera in the thermal infrared

We introduce a compact hyperspectral camera in the thermal infrared, where chemical bonds have their characteristic vibrational transitions. The sensor is an uncooled microbolometer, and the spectral data are acquired by the time-domain Fourier-transform approach, by means of an ultracompact birefringent interferometer. The time-domain approach enables hyperspectral imaging with shorter acquisition times and higher spectral accuracy compared to dispersive schemes. We demonstrate the camera capability by reporting hyperspectral imaging in transmission and emission geometries. Due to its compactness, lightweight and stability even in harsh environments, the camera is a unique enabling technology for remote unambiguous chemical identification.