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Absorption-Based Hyperspectral Thermal Ranging: Performance Analyses, Optimization, and Simulations
Published
Author(s)
Unay Dorken Gallastegi, Hoover Rueda-Chacón, Martin Stevens, Vivek Goyal
Abstract
The wavelength dependence of atmospheric absorption creates range cues in hyperspectral measurements that can be exploited for passive ranging using only thermal emissions. In this work, we present fundamental limits on absorption-based ranging under a model of known air temperature and wavelength-dependent attenuation coefficient, with object temperature and emissivity unknown. Fisher information computations illustrate how performance limits depend on atmospheric conditions such as air temperature and humidity; temperature contrast in the scene; spectral resolution of measurement; and distance. These results should prove valuable in sensor system design.
Dorken Gallastegi, U.
, Rueda-Chacon, H.
, Stevens, M.
and Goyal, V.
(2024),
Absorption-Based Hyperspectral Thermal Ranging: Performance Analyses, Optimization, and Simulations, Optics Express, [online], https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.507927, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956897
(Accessed October 9, 2025)