Low noise longwave infrared (8-12µm) focal plane array with high sensitivity for passive hyperspectral standoff detection

Longwave infrared (LWIR, 8-12µm) focal plane arrays (FPAs) play an important role in hyperspectral chemical and biological sensing. Existing thermal detectors are unable to meet the high sensitivity and fast response requirements of many hyperspectral chemical and biological sensing applications. Photodetectors and FPAs based on photon excited electron generation process can fulfill the speed and sensitivity requirements. However, they show high noise, and thus need to be cooled down to < 80 K to reduce the noise. The requirement for cryogenic cooling systems adds cost, power consumption and reliability issues, thereby making it unsuitable for standoff sensing and detections. This SBIR proposal aims to develop a new low noise highly sensitive LWIR FPA without the need of cryogenic cooling systems. Such FPA technology would significantly reduce the size weight, and power consumption and especially suitable for standoff hyperspectral chemical and biological sensing and detections. In phase I, the proposed FPA will be evaluated and compared existing FPA technologies. A preliminary FPA design will be generated to meet the requirements of standoff hyperspectral imaging systems. In Phase II, a prototype of the LWIR FPA will be developed and packaged with supporting electronics and optics components to produce a hyperspectral IR camera.