Non-Cryocooled Dual-Band Infrared Imager

SDI requires dual band imaging technology. The approach may provide equivalent performance at far lower cost than discrete element IRFPA technologies. The project will develop a dual band IR imager using its photodichronic imaging (PDI) technology. A sensitive 8 to 12 micron imager has been demonstrated. Similarly designed materials have been demonstrated to be sensitive to different IR spectral bands. PDI involves: 1. modulation of photodichronic properties of one molecular group resulting from optical absorption in another, both groups linked in the molecule by pi electronics which determine response time and modulation characteristics; 2. near perfect molecular organization of these materials onto substrates by the Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) process; and 3. the extreme sensitivity of ellipsometic techniques used to generate images. Dichronic materials act as both sensor and display, directly converting IR or UV images into visible ones. Images can be viewed directly by the eye, or by means of CCD cameras for missile IR seeker/tracker use. PDI requires no cryocooling, scanning, or electronic signal processing, and is all optical with no moving parts.