Multivariate data are frequently decomposed by methods like principal component analysis, partial
least squares, linear discriminant analysis, and the like. These methods yield latent spectra
(or latent variables, loadings, components, ...) that are linear combination coefficients
along the wavelength axis and scores for each spectrum and loading.The loadings matrix gives a coordinate transformation, and the scores are values in that
new coordinate system.
The obtained latent variables are spectra-like objects: a latent variable has a coefficient for
each wavelength. If such a matrix (with the same number of columns as object has
wavelengths) is given to decomposition (also setting scores = FALSE), the spectra
matrix is replaced by x. Moreover, all columns of object@data that did not contain
the same value for all spectra are set to NA. Thus, for the resulting hyperSpec
object, plotspc and related functions are meaningful.
plotmap cannot be applied as the loadings are not laterally resolved.
The scores matrix needs to have the same number of rows as object has spectra. If such a
matrix is given, decomposition will replace the spectra matrix is replaced by x and
object@wavelength by wavelength. The information related to each of the spectra is
retained. For such a hyperSpec object, plotmap and plotc and
the like can be applied. It is also possible to use the spectra plotting, but the
interpretation is not that of the spectrum any longer.