ALCHERA: a hyperspectral architecture to make imaging spectroscopy ubiquitous

The implications of ubiquitous hyperspectral imaging technology are profound and cut across agriculture, medicine, defense, and food security. Until now the cost, size, and complexity of hyperspectral imagers and data analysis prohibited the realization of this scenario. PARCs revolutionary ALCHERA system (Actuation of Liquid Crystal for Hyperspectral Remote Analysis) has the potential to democratize hyperspectral imaging technology. The ALCHERA employs polarization interferometry through a liquid crystal cell to transform any imager into a hyperspectral sensor with full visible and near-infrared spectral coverage. The resulting system is matched to the size and cost of a mobile phone, and with its dynamic software configurability of spectral resolution, spatial resolution, and imaging speed, can enable truly portable, general purpose hyperspectral imaging.