What Is a Hyperspectral Spectrophotometer?

Hyperspectral spectrophotometry refers to the imaging and measurement of hyperspectral waves to analyze a material’s composition. You can use this hyperspectral data for anything from imaging and inspection applications to complex remote-sensing satellites and aircraft-based systems.

How Do Hyperspectral Spectrophotometers Work?

While humans can only observe red, green and blue color spectrums, hyperspectral spectrophotometers measure a material’s continuous spectrum of light with the power of fine wavelength resolution. This resolution captures visible light spectrums as well as those that are near-infrared. Hyperspectral spectrophotometers display this data in a hyperspectral cube format where two dimensions represent the spatial extent of the material’s composition and the third represents its spectral content.

Compared to other spectrophotometers, hyperspectral spectrophotometry observes hundreds to thousands more spectral bands and provides a narrower spectral resolution that’s only a few nanometers wide. These tools are useful for determining the wavelength resolutions of both solids and liquids in rapid time without waiting for the aid of processing systems.

Applications of Hyperspectral Spectrophotometers

Hyperspectral spectrophotometers are frequently used for manufacturing quality assurance, inspection purposes and scientific applications. Learn more about a few of the most common hyperspectral uses.

Food and Pharmaceutical Applications

In the production sector, hyperspectral spectrophotometers are most frequently used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative in accordance with American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. This initiative checks consumable products for composition, quality, strength and purity to ensure their quality. In powder blends and tablets, hyperspectral spectrophotometers are used to ensure the homogeneity of the substance. With hyperspectral imaging, you can ensure a drug’s formation is correct and effective and easily distinguish one drug from another.

Biological, Chemical and Forensic Analysis

Hyperspectral spectrophotometers are also used in conventional scientific analysis to analyze individual samples without the need for lengthy processing times. This testing method allows for blend uniformity analysis, tablet variability analysis, package monitoring, product detection and more, making hyperspectral devices particularly suited to the forensics field. For example, hyperspectral imaging is essential for forensic substance analysis, product identification and blister pack inspection.

Remote Sensing Applications

These hypersensitive tools are frequently used for remote sensing in air- or satellite-borne systems. Remote sensing satellites first used hyperspectral spectrophotometers in the early 1970s when Landsat I provided the first multispectral images of the Earth using reflectance spectroscopy. Today, scientists use hyperspectral spectrophotometry for studying everything from planets to invasive species and agricultural effects, zooming in and out to get the bigger picture for a range of subjects. Whether studying the large or small things in life, hyperspectral spectrophotometers help scientists see in new ways.

About HunterLab

At HunterLab, we have a passion for truth and more than six decades of experience in the spectrophotometry field. We don’t just follow the trends of the industry — we set them. We’re here to give you the confidence you need to trust in your processes and be absolutely sure of your results. Browse our spectrophotometry solutions or reach out to us today to learn more about what we can do for your business.