Optical Detectors and Detector Systems (3 units). Photodetectors; thermal detectors; photoemitters; figure of merits; responsivity; NEP; D*; BLIP conditions; discussion of various detector types; quantitative detector comparisons; detectors covering the spectral region from uv to infrared is covered. Two-dimensional arrays, system analysis and instrument design. Prerequisites: OPTI 503 and OPTI 507.

Instructor:
Eustace Dereniak, McKale Center, Optical Detection Lab, 200
Office: 621-1019 | Lab: 621-5690 | Fax: 621-9104
Email: eustace@u.arizona.edu

Course Outline:

Basic Optical Detection Process

Figures of Merit

Testing, Characterization and BLIP

Photovoltaic Detector:

• Silicon
• PIN, Avalanche
• InSb
• HgCdTe
• Electronic Interface

Photoconductive Detectors:

• PbS, PbSe
• Extrinsic Ge + Si
• Pre-Amplifiers

Thermal Detectors:

• Bolometer
• Pyroelectric

Two Dimensional Arrays:

• CCD
• Infrared arrays

Thermal System Analysis

Target Pehnomenology:

• Reflection and emission properties of materials
• Bi-directional reflectivity distribution function (BRDF)
• Data processing and data exploitation

Introduction to Orbital Mechanics:

• Basic orbit types used in remote sensing: polar, sun-synchronous
• Orbital parameters and rules of thumb

Radiation Sources:

• Point sources vs. extended sources
• The visible/near-infrared scene
• The infrared scene
• Solar radiation

Effects of the Atmosphere:

• Transmittance and path radiance
• Turbulence
• Tools for modeling of the atmosphere

System Figures of Merit:

• NETD, SNR, NESR
• Sensitivity calculations
• Scattering in optical systems

Instrument Calibration:

• Radiometric calibration
• Spectral calibration

Sensor Design Project:

• Practical application of covered topics

• Homework 40%
• Exams 40%
• Final Exam 20%

Dereniak. Infrared Detectors and Systems. Wiley.

Class notes will be handed out

Miller, J.L. and Friedman, E. (1996). Photonics Rules of Thumb. McGraw-Hill