SCINTILLATION CRYSTALS FOR POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY

Not Available Electro-optical imagers used in high velocity applications such as supersonic aircraft and especially missile seekers require a window element to protect the imager assembly from the external environment. Traditionally these windows have been spherical concentric shell elements to minimize optical aberrations over gimbal angle. These shapes are not aerodynamically efficient, resulting in high drag and large thermal transfer between the flowfield and the dome. Previous programs have utilized covers, deployable sensors, or active cooling to minimize thermal transfer. This program proposes to examine the benefits of combining aerodynamic dome shapes and minimization of thermal transfer via covers or active cooling. The collective expertise of OPTICS 1 and SAIC in the areas of optical design and analysis and aero-thermal modeling and analysis for aerodynamic shapes and will be focused in this effort. Relative benefits of previously tried and new methods will be investigated to enhance the achievable resolution and sensitivity required for the long stand-off range requirements of tomorrow's missiles.