Coherent Fiber Optic Bundles in Infrared

This proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating novel infrared coherent fiber optic bundles. The application is for a passive missile warning receiver (MWR) system in a space based ballistic missile defense platform. The MWR system will use focal plane arrays to sense the plume radiation of approaching missiles. New types of polymer permit the extension of this technology to the mid infrared (MIR) range 2.0 to 4.8 microns. The new MIR fiber optic bundle will be flexible, highly stable and match the resolution requirements of a typical 256x256 element focal plane array detector. Success in this project will permit greater integration of multiple detectors for large angle coverage of MWR system, with the consequence of greater reliability and cost savings. The fiber bundle will permit thermography inside machinery and other difficult to access locations. The proposed technology will permit MIR medical diagnostic endoscopy for the first time. With use of narrow band filters, gas spectroscopy and industrial process control is another application of the proposed technology.