High-Throughput Infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Stand-Off Chemical Detection

Advanced autonomous detection of chemical warfare agents and other organic materials has long been a major military concern. While significant advances have recently been accomplished in remote spectral sensing using rugged FTIRs with point detectors, efforts towards spatial chemical discrimination have been lacking. Foster-Miller, Inc. (FMI) together with Boeing/Rockwell Electro-Optic Center proposes to design and demonstrate a radically different mid-infrared (3-5um) and long wave IR (8-12 um) imaging spectrometer for standoff detection of chemical warfare agents and other molecular species. This no moving parts device will: Be readily incorporated into existing or planned FLIR's; Eliminate the cost, complexity, reliability and bandwidth/resolution problems associated with either Fabry Perot or Michelson Interferometer based approaches currently under consideration; Given the small size and performance insensitivity to on-board vibration, high EMI, thermal variations, the proposed optic would easily adapt cryocooling and field deployable requirements for low radiance detection. During the Phase I effort, will demonstrate overall feasibility, determine spectral and spatial resolution and compute NESR and NETD for the system. Our team partner Boeing/Rockwell Electro-Optic Center will provide a cryogenically cooled detector array to be coupled to spectrometer to demonstrate the feasibility of our design approach. The Phase I will provide the basis for the creation of a conceptual design of an integrated FLIR imaging and spectral radiometer for development during Phase II. During Phase II FMI and Boeing/Rockwell will optimize the system design to incorporate higher spatial resolution and light collection optics integrated with a cooled detector array and deliver a well characterized prototype system to the topic sponsor. BENEFITS: The ability to perform standoff infrared imaging of chemical agents and other organic molecules of interest has incredibly broad potential use in both military and commercial applications. Space, ground and airborne based monitoring for both security and environmental sensing will be a major benefactor. This added capability for spatial chemical detection further b