Glossary of Symbols

Introduction

History of Infrared Detectors and Systems

Detector IRFPA Roadmap

Performance Parameters for Optical Detectors

Infrared Detectors

Primary Sources of Detector Noise

Noise Power Spectral Density

White Noise

Noise-Equivalent Bandwidth

Shot Noise

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Detector and BLIP Limits

Generation–Recombination Noise

Johnson Noise

1/f Noise and Temperature Noise

Detector Responsivity

Spectral Responsivity

Blackbody Responsivity

Noise-Equivalent Power

Specific or Normalized Detectivity (D*)

Photovoltaic Detectors or Photodiodes

Sources of Noise in PV Detectors

Expressions for D*_PV,BLIP, D**_PV,BLIP, and D*_PV,JOLI

Photoconductive Detectors

Sources of Noise in PC Detectors

Infrared Semiconductor and Detector Technologies

Infrared Semiconductor Material Groups

Third-Generation Infrared Imagers: Requirements

Third-Generation Infrared Imagers: Challenges

Indium Antimonite (InSb) Photodiodes

InSb Dual-Band Integrated Dewar Cool Assembly

Concept of Barrier Infrared Photodetectors

MWIR nBn Photodetector

Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe) Photodetectors

Control of the Alloy Composition

HgCdTe Photodiodes and FPAs

Double-Layer Heterojunction Photodiodes

Dual-Band HgCdTe FPAs

High-Density Vertically Integrated Photodiodes

Uncooled HgCdTe Photodiodes

Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors

Types of QWIPs

Superlattices

Multispectral QWIPs

Light Couplers

Type II Strained-Layer Superlattices

Dual-Band IRFPA Technology: Advantages

3D Read-Out Integrated Circuits

Adaptive FPAs

Pyroelectric Detectors

Pyroelectric Detectors: Mathematical Approach

Microbolometers

Microbolometers: Mathematical Approach

Infrared Dynamic Scene Simulators

Thermoelectric Detectors

Carbon Nanotubes for Infrared Applications

Infrared Systems

Raster Scan Format: Single Detector

Multiple Detector Scan Formats: Serial Scene Dissection

Multiple Detector Scan Formats: Parallel Scene Dissection

Staring Systems

Search Systems and the Range Equation

Noise Equivalent Irradiance

Performance Specification: Thermal Imaging Systems

Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)

Optics MTF: Calculations

Detector MTF: Calculations

Parameter λ(F/#)/d

Motion MTF: Calculations

Atmospheric MTF: Calculations

MTF Measurement Setup and Sampling Effects

MTF Measuring Techniques: Point Spread Function and Line Spread Function

MTF Measuring Techniques: Edge Spread Function and Contrast Transfer Function

MTF Measuring Techniques: Noise-like Targets

MTF Measuring Techniques: Interferometry

Double-Layer Heterojunction Photodiodes

Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD)

NETD of Microbolometers

NETD Measurement Technique

Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference(MRTD)

MRTD: Calculation

MRTD Measurement Technique

MRTD Measurement: Automatic Test

Johnson Metric Methodology

Johnson Criteria Flaws

Targeting Task Performance (TTP) Metric Methodology

Human Vision: Distribution of Retinal Photoreceptors

Human Vision: Response and Sensitivity

Contrast Threshold Function (CTF)

Target Acquisition Performance

Probability of Targeting Task Performance

N50 to V50 Conversion (Example)

Acquisition Level Definitions

TTP Summary

Equation Summary

Bibliography

Index

The amount of new material that was added to the second edition of the Field Guide to Infrared Systems, Detectors, and FPAs (2010) was rather extensive. As a result, this third edition is accompanied by a "companion" publication, the Field Guide to Infrared Optics, Materials, and Radiometry.

These Field Guides cover a broad range of technical topics necessary to understand the principles of modern infrared technology. They combine numerous engineering disciplines that are essential for the development of infrared systems. The mathematical equations and physical concepts in these Field Guides are in sequence. Therefore, although these publications are sold separately, it is highly recommended that readers acquire the two books as a set.

The Field Guide to Infrared Systems, Detectors, and FPAs, Third Edition is devoted to fundamental background issues for optical detection processes. It compares the characteristics of cooled and uncooled detectors with an emphasis on spectral and blackbody responsivity, and detectivity, as well as the noise mechanisms related to optical detection. This third edition introduces the concepts of barrier infrared detector technologies and encompasses the capabilities and challenges of third-generation infrared focal plane arrays as well as the advantages of using dualband technology.

With this acquired background, the last chapter considers the systems design aspects of infrared imagers. Figures of merit such as MTF, NETD, and MRTD of starring arrays are examined for the performance metrics of thermal sensitivity and spatial resolution of thermal imaging systems. The parameter λ(F/#)/d, motion MTF, and atmospheric MTF are included in this third edition. It also includes an overview of the targeting task performance (TTP) metric.

I would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my professor and mentor Dr. Glenn Boreman for his guidance, experience, and friendship. The knowledge that he passed on to me during my graduate studies at CREOL ultimately contributed to the creation of this book.

I extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Mel Friedman, NVESD, who took on the onerous task of improving and clarifying the TTP metric concepts and its contents. I would also like to thank Mr. Thomas Haberfelde for his efforts in reviewing the drafts of the manuscripts as well as Alexander Daniels and Dara Burrows for their skillful editing assistance.

Above all, I voice a special note of gratitude to my kids Becky and Alex, and my wife Rosa for their love and support.

Lastly, I would particularly like to thank you, the reader, for selecting these books and taking the time to explore the topics related to this motivating and exciting field. I trust that the contents of these Field Guides will prove interesting and useful to engineers and scientists working in one of the various infrared fields.

These Field Guides are dedicated to the memory of my father and brothers.

Arnold Daniels
September 2018