INFRARED DETECTOR SYSTEM FOR HERO APPLICATIONS

SIGNIFICANT RECENT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FIBER-OPTIC BASED INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ORDNANCE TO ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RADIATION UTILIZING FLUORIDE GLASS FIBERS AND INSB DETECTORS IN THE 3-5 MICRON WAVELENGTH RANGE. BECAUSE OF THE LOW ENERGY FROM TYPICAL BRIDGEWIRE SYSTEMS IN THIS WAVELENGTH BAND, IT IS DESIRABLE TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO LONGER WAVELENGTHS. THIS REQUIRES BOTH NEW FIBER AND NEW DETECTOR SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF CHALCOGENIDE GLASS FIBERS WHICH NOW UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR USE IN THE HERO APPLICATION, AND WILL SPECIFICALLY INVESTIGATE THE USE OF HGCDTE DETECTORS WITH WAVELENGTH RESPONSE BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MICRONS. CRITICAL AREAS IN THE EVALUATION WILL BE FIBER TRANSMISSION, MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FIBER, LOW FREQUENCY NOISE OF THE DETECTOR/ELECTRONICS, SUITABILITY OF SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN EMI-HARDENED, PORTABLE PACKAGE.