Generalization of the Lyot filter and its application to snapshot spectral imaging

A snapshot multi-spectral imaging technique is described which employs multiple cascaded birefringent interferometers to simultaneously spectrally filter and demultiplex multiple spectral images onto a single detector array. Spectral images are recorded directly without the need for inversion and without rejection of light and so the technique offers the potential for high signal-to-noise ratio. An example of an eight-band multispectral movie sequence is presented; we believe this is the first such demonstration of a technique able to record multi-spectral movie sequences without the need for computer reconstruction. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America