1. An imaging spectroscopy system, comprising: a spectral illuminator that emits light in a plurality of spectral bands within a predefined spectral range, with the intensity of light in each spectral band being independently adjustable; drive circuitry that controls the flux in each spectral band of the spectral illuminator; scrambling optics that spatially homogenize the distribution of light emitted by the spectral illuminator; beam delivery optics that direct the spatially homogenized light from the scrambling optics to form an illumination pattern at a sample, wherein the illumination pattern is substantially free of variation as a function of wavelength within the predefined spectral range; receiver optics that receive light which has interacted with the sample and form an image of the sample at a focal plane; an imaging detector located at the focal plane for detecting an image of the sample; and a computer in communication with the drive circuitry and the imaging detector for controlling the drive circuitry and receiving data from the imaging detector.