Automatic continuum analysis of reflectance spectra

Abstract

A continuum algorithm based on a Segmented Upper Hull method (SUH) is described. An upper hull is performed on segments of a spectrum defined by local minima and maxima. The segments making a complete spectrum are then combined. The definition of the upper hull allows the continuum to be both concave and/or convex, adapting to the shape of the spectrum. The method performs multiple passes on a spectrum by segmenting each local maximum to minimum and performing an upper hull. The algorithm naturally adapts to the widths of absorption features, so that all features are found, including the nature of doublets, triplets, etc. The algorithm is also reasonably fast on common minicomputers so that it might be applied to the large data sets from imaging spectrometers.