Uncooled BLIP Detector for Next Generation Infrared (IR) Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs)

The ITN team proposes to design and develop a revolutionary uncooled IR detector that is compatible with large format focal place arrays. By dramatically decreasing thermal conduction noise and Johnson noise, the proposed sensor enables BLIP sensitivity resulting in a 50 times increase in detector sensitivity over state-of-the-art technologies. Preliminary analysis projects a specific detectivity of 1.2E10 cm-Hz^0.5/W and NETD much less than 1 mK. The proposed BLIP detector will have a cutoff wavelength greater than 14 microns, a time constant of ~3msec, and require very little power (~40nanoWatts per pixel). In addition, the BLIP detector will be fabricated with standard thin-film technologies that provide high pixel uniformity, decreased cost, and inherent stability in high radiation environments.