Tunable infrared spectral imaging system

Christine Y. Wang; Nolan Peard; Dennis Callahan; Joy C. Perkinson; Neil Patel; John LeBlanc; Qingyang Du; Takian Fakhrul; Caroline A. Ross; Juejun Hu

doi:10.1117/12.2570591

12 October 2020 Tunable infrared spectral imaging system

Christine Y. Wang, Nolan Peard, Dennis Callahan, Joy C. Perkinson, Neil Patel, John LeBlanc, Qingyang Du, Takian Fakhrul, Caroline A. Ross, Juejun Hu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11537, Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XVII; 1153703 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2570591
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

We report an approach to build a tunable spectral imaging system operating in the long-wave infrared (λ=8-12 μm). In addition to broadband images, the imaging systems allows for tunable selection of particular passbands. The tunable passband selection allows the imaging system to focus on the infrared signatures (including both thermal emission signature related to object’s temperature and characteristic absorption signature) of object of interest. This is achieved by incorporating a fast tunable spectral filter comprising dispersive magneto-optic (MO) materials in the imaging system. The MO materials in the spectral filter are sandwiched between polarizers, and dispersion in the Faraday Effect rotates the polarization of different wavelengths of light by different amounts, which results in a wavelength-dependent attenuation by the subsequent polarizer. Multiple stages with different thicknesses of the MO material can be stacked (Lyot configuration) to further narrow down the transmission peak. The central wavelength of the filter can be tuned either by tuning the magnetic field B along the direction of the optical axis, or by rotating the polarizers while applying a fixed magnetic field. In the long-wave infrared, n-doped InSb proves to be a prominent MO material. We present detailed measurements of Verdet constant, absorption coefficient and calculated figure of merit (FOM) for a range of carrier concentrations near 10¹⁷ cm^-3 in the long-wave infrared. A prototype tunable bandpass filter is constructed and demonstrated.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Christine Y. Wang, Nolan Peard, Dennis Callahan, Joy C. Perkinson, Neil Patel, John LeBlanc, Qingyang Du, Takian Fakhrul, Caroline A. Ross, and Juejun Hu "Tunable infrared spectral imaging system", Proc. SPIE 11537, Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XVII, 1153703 (12 October 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2570591

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