Let me say from the outset that 'spectral imaging' has nothing to do with photographing ghosts.

It's about capturing light across a wider range of wavelengths than the human eye can perceive. And the way this light interacts with various materials produces unique spectral 'fingerprints' which can be used to identify the composition of the materials.

And that explanation has exhausted my meagre knowledge of spectroscopy. So let me leave it to someone who understands this stuff far better than me.

I therefore defer to Gwen Wyatt-Moon, who is the CEO and one of the four founders of Cambridge-based imaging startup, Prospectral.

Prospectral is one of the ten UK semiconductor startups selected for the third cohort of the government sponsored ChipStart incubator, which is managed by Silicon Catalyst UK.

Gwen, along with Cambridge University researchers Tom Albrow-Owen (CTO), Oliver Burton (CSO) and Peter Christopher (CIO), are developing a microscopically thin filter called a metasurface that sits on top of industry-standard imaging sensors to form the basis of lightweight, portable spectroscopes.

And not only can Prospectral's technology be used for materials analysis, it can also be used, for example, to improve object recognition in autonomous vehicle control systems, or in ultra-compact medical devices as well as many other applications that currently depend on high-cost, lab-based spectral imaging kit.

You can hear Gwen describe Prospectral's journey in this episode of BritChips: Conversations with movers ands shakers in the UK semiconductor startup scene.

I’m sure you’ll find it most enlightening!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com