Low Light Short Wave Infrared Focal Plane Arrays

The objective of the work is to investigate the feasibility of providing a thermoelectrically (TE) cooled shortwaveinfrared (SWIR) low-light level digital sensor/camera that meets the requirements (including noise, sensitivity, spectral response, linearity, frame-size/-rate) sought under this solicitation. Based on simulation and existing data, an evaluation will be performed of relevant pre- and post-environmental test performance metrics of Intevacs current low-light level camera product offerings: our ISIE6 electron-bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS) based digital intensified-imaging (DI2) cameras and our GaAs-photocathode-based ISIE11 EBAPS-based DI2 cameras. Risks to performance metrics and product manufacturability will be identified and a plan of action for development of the design and/or processing steps necessary to effectively mitigate these risks will be determined. It is expected that a down selection among the transferred-electron photocathode and sensor configurations and risk-mitigating process steps to be developed will be implemented in Phase 2 of this effort towards the production of at least one prototype sensor/camera.(Approved for Public Release 15-MDA-8482 (17 November 15))