INDUCTIVELY COUPLED IR STARIG ARRAY BASED ON PHOTOFLUXONIC PIXELS

A new type of infrared staring array, not requiring contact with readout electronics, is proposed based on the recently observed phenomenon of photofluxonics. We propose to utilize this enhanced photodetection effect in superconductors to make a new and extremely simple monolithic focal plane staring array for infrared and far infrared radiation. The pixel design is such that the array may be readout and refreshed inductively via magnetic fields, which implies the following: no electrical connections are required to the array, no power dissipation in the pixels, and no connection between pixels. In Phase I we will determine the feasibility of building an inductively coupled non-contact staring array of one million pixels or more, based on photofluxonic pixels.