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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDNature Communications

Mid-infrared snapshot spectral imaging via nonlinear radial dispersion

  • Jian‐an Fang1,2
  • Kun Huang3,4,5
  • Ruiyang Qin2
  • Jixi Zhang2
  • Heping Zeng6,7,8,9
9 affiliations
  1. 1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, China
  2. 2State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
  3. 3Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, China. [email protected]
  4. 4Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China. [email protected]
  5. 5State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. [email protected]
  6. 6Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing, China. [email protected]
  7. 7Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, China. [email protected]
  8. 8Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai, China. [email protected]
  9. 9State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. [email protected]
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Abstract

Mid-infrared spectral imaging provides chemically specific contrast through molecular vibrational fingerprints, yet snapshot acquisition remains severely limited by the lack of high-sensitivity detectors and efficient spectral encoding mechanisms. Here we introduce snapshot MIR spectral imaging based on intrinsic nonlinear radial dispersion, in which wavelength-dependent phase matching simultaneously enables frequency upconversion and spectral multiplexing. Different spectral components are mapped to distinct output angles within a 4f imaging architecture, enabling single-shot spectral encoding without external dispersive elements. In combination with speckle illumination encoding, spectral information is compressed and recovered without additional coding components. Leveraging nonlinear upconversion to the visible, the approach achieves room-temperature MIR spectral imaging with sensitivity approaching 1 photon/pixel/pulse across a broad spectral range from 2.5 to 4.0 μm. This work transforms spectral encoding from an external optical function into an inherent property of the nonlinear imaging process, providing a general route to high-sensitivity snapshot MIR spectral imaging. The authors demonstrate snapshot mid-infrared upconversion spectral imaging via intrinsic nonlinear radial dispersion, enabling high-sensitivity, high-speed hyperspectral imaging with implications for real-time chemical mapping and IR sensing.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{fang2026midinfrared,
  title = {{Mid-infrared snapshot spectral imaging via nonlinear radial dispersion}},
  author = {Jian‐an Fang and Kun Huang and Ruiyang Qin and Jixi Zhang and Heping Zeng},
  journal = {Nature Communications},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-74263-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74263-x},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Mid-infrared snapshot spectral imaging via nonlinear radial dispersion
AU  - Jian‐an Fang
AU  - Kun Huang
AU  - Ruiyang Qin
AU  - Jixi Zhang
AU  - Heping Zeng
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/13
JO  - Nature Communications
DO  - 10.1038/s41467-026-74263-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74263-x
AB  - Mid-infrared spectral imaging provides chemically specific contrast through molecular vibrational fingerprints, yet snapshot acquisition remains severely limited by the lack of high-sensitivity detectors and efficient spectral encoding mechanisms. Here we introduce snapshot MIR spectral imaging based on intrinsic nonlinear radial dispersion, in which wavelength-dependent phase matching simultaneously enables frequency upconversion and spectral multiplexing. Different spectral components are mapped to distinct output angles within a 4f imaging architecture, enabling single-shot spectral encoding without external dispersive elements. In combination with speckle illumination encoding, spectral information is compressed and recovered without additional coding components. Leveraging nonlinear upconversion to the visible, the approach achieves room-temperature MIR spectral imaging with sensitivity approaching 1 photon/pixel/pulse across a broad spectral range from 2.5 to 4.0 μm. This work transforms spectral encoding from an external optical function into an inherent property of the nonlinear imaging process, providing a general route to high-sensitivity snapshot MIR spectral imaging. The authors demonstrate snapshot mid-infrared upconversion spectral imaging via intrinsic nonlinear radial dispersion, enabling high-sensitivity, high-speed hyperspectral imaging with implications for real-time chemical mapping and IR sensing.
SN  - 2041-1723
ER  -