Low-cost infrared imaging technology development at the Air Force Research Laboratory

Infrared imaging technology has numerous commercial, military, and scientific applications. As performance requirements increase, so do the costs of fabricating and operating infrared imaging systems. While many high-performance applications can be met using the very well-developed mercury cadmium telluride material system, the overall manufacturing and operational costs of the imaging system as a whole can be prohibitively expensive. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is actively exploring various technologies using different materials and device physics to achieve adequate performance for the given application at significantly lower costs. A sample of different technologies will be reviewed with an emphasis on fundamental science and basic research needs.