The advantages of this new device include (a) polarimetric and hyperspectral information without loss of
spatial or spectral resolution compared to a conventional push-broom imaging grating spectrometer (b) no
moving parts and most importantly (c) perfect pixel registration in space and time.
The next formidable challenge is to build the device. The semiconductor processing is similar to the processing
performed by Lin, Flemming, Yamamoto, and Noda.17, 18 We anticipate the approach of wafer-fusion
will be more successful for building the pixel-polarimeter because the quantum-wells will each be grown on a
perfect substrate and then gratings will be etched and finally joined. The contacts will be similar to that of a
multi-color QWIP.13 In short, the component technologies have been demonstrated and fabrication is feasible