According to a report from SPIE, the Security, Defense,+ Sensing symposium in Orlando, FL, is attracting a strong audience for sessions on infrared technologies and applications, with papers from Sofradir, The Aerospace Corp., SCD Semicondcutor Devices, Thales Optronics, and others.
A paper titled: "Sofradir latest developments for infrared space detectors," described how Sofradir develops and produces application-specific IR imaging systems for both tactical and space missions. Current space applications include the Saturn imaging system at 0.4 to 2.5 microns with an array size of 1000 x 256 pixels. The system is rad-hardened and passed both shock and vibration testing for launch events. Other systems include the Neptune imaging system at 500x256 pixels and the Sentinel system for a European remote sensing application.
The Sentinel system is designed specifically for monitoring vegetation and has a superspectral detector at 6 individual wavelengths. Each wavelength is in a 1298 x 1 pixel detector array meant for a synthetic aperture optical approach. In 2011 Sofradir will have five imaging systems launched into orbit.
In the keynote paper on terahertz physics, devices, and Ssstems ("Toward realizing high-power semiconductor terahertz laser sources at room temperature") Manijeh Razeghi of Northwestern Univ. discussed the progress and varied approaches for reaching the goal of a compact, room-temperature, electrically driven, milliwatt terahertz (Thz) optical source.
Optical approaches include using quantum cascade lasers (QCL) in the far-infrared to generate Thz output or mixing the output from two far-spaced IR QCLs to generate a beat frequency in the Thz range in a nonlinear medium.
New Fellows
SPIE President Elect presented pins to new Fellows of the Society at a luncheon attended by approximately 50 of the Society's Fellows:
- Susan Davis Allen, Arkansas State University
- Fredric Marvin Ham, Florida Institute of Technology
- Sanjay Krishna, Center for High Technology Materials
- Kalluri Sarma, Honeywell Technology
- Alexander Toet, TNO Defence Security and Safety.
Luncheon speaker SPIE Fellow Larry Stotts of DARPA (below) told why free space optical communication and submarine laser communication have come under serious consideration. Inside the reception hall, FLIR offered attendees a chance to race unmanned vehicles around an obstacle course.
SOURCE: SPIE
Posted by Vision Systems Design
