Performance of the FIRST, a longwave infrared hyperspectral imaging sensor

Emerging applications in Defense and Security require sensors with state-of-the-art sensitivity and capabilities. Among these sensors, the imaging spectrometer is an instrument yielding a large amount of rich information about the measured scene. Standoff detection, identification and quantification of chemicals in the gaseous state are fundamental needs in several fields of applications. Imaging spectrometers have unmatched capabilities to meet the requirements of these applications. Telops has developed the FIRST, a LWIR hyperspectral imager. The FIRST is based on FTIR technology to provide high spectral resolution and to enable high accuracy radiometric calibration. The FIRST, a man portable sensor, provides datacubes of up to 320x256 pixels at 0.35 mrad spatial resolution over the 8-12 mu m spectral range at spectral resolutions of up to 0.25 cm(-1). The FIRST has been used in several field measurements, including demonstration of standoff chemical agent detection. One key feature of the FIRST is its ability to give calibrated measurements. The quality of the calibrated measurements will be presented in this paper. Sensitivity, spectral resolution and radiometric stability as obtained during field and laboratory measurements will be presented. Finally, images of chemical releases detected with the FIRST will be shown.