CURVED FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS (FPAs) FOR VERY-WIDE FIELD-OF-VIEW STARING INFRARED DETECTION SYSTEMS

"The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the ballistic and cruise missiles that could deliver them pose a direct and immediate threat to the security of U.S. The capability to defend against an attacking missile in the boost, midcourse, anddescent phase increases the chances that the missile and its payload will be destroyed. Given the prominent heat signature of ballistic missiles, infrared detection systems play an important role in high resolution imaging of missiles, and are thuscritical for all phases of missile defense.In this program we will specify a lithography process for high-volume production of curved focal plane arrays operating at infrared wavelengths, and we will experimentally investigate several key elements of the fabrication process. These investigationswill lead toward the development of wide-field-of-view infrared detection systems, and will therefore enhance the capability of the United States military to detect, classify, track, and destroy enemy missiles. The processes that we will experimentallyinvestigate are based upon a proprietary lithography technology that has been developed by Anvik Corporation. This unique technology enables high-resolution lithography to be performed on curved surfaces, and can therefore be used for the fabrication offocal plane arrays on spherical substrates. Anvik's curved surface lithography technology will lead to the development of curved focal plane arrays for imag