Focal Plane Array with Arbitrary Tunable Spectral Response

Target discrimination capability can be greatly improved by contrasting the spectral energy content of the target against the background radiation. For fast target discrimination, Boston Applied Technologies proposes to develop a composite dynamic optical filtering technology for imaging arbitrary spectral responses. It can perform not only sequential wavelength-by-wavelength tuning, but also reconfigure the combinations of wavebands (even complicated spectral profile over a broad range) at microseconds intervals. Basic concepts of this technology have been experimentally demonstrated in Phase I, which included wavelength-to-wavelength tuning and sophisticated spectral profile reconfiguration. Working range of this device covers from visible to mid-infrared (up to 8.0 micron). In this Phase II proposal, we will capitalize on the Phase I success and develop a mid-IR composite focal plane array with rapid reconfiguration ability with arbitrary spectral response. Several innovative technologies will be implemented, including the synthesis technique for high-performance electro-optical materials, the software and hardware for composing arbitrary transmission curves, as well as the algorisms for fast non-linear regression.