Compact single-shot multispectral polarization imager through joint spectral-polarization encoding

The technique of spectral polarization imaging (SPI) is a potent detection tool in various fields due to its ability to capture multi-dimensional information. However, existing SPI systems usually face challenges associated with architectural complexity and computational requirements, rendering them unsuitable for handheld, on-board, and real-time applications. Consequently, a compact single-shot multispectral polarization imager (CSMPI) is proposed, which employs a combined spectral-polarization encoding strategy to address the aforementioned issues. It incorporates a coded aperture for encoding multiple spectral channels together with linear polarization into a single measurement, enabling the simultaneous detection of up to nine light components with just one exposure. The resulting prototype consists solely of a color polarization detector and an imaging lens inserted with the small and easily fabricable coded aperture, which features compact dimensions of Φ5.5 cm × 21.5 cm and a light weight of approximately 670 g. This is particularly advantageous for application areas that require system miniaturization and rapid multi-dimensional detection.