Overview of EO Systems Research Theme

1. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 1 Stuart Duncan Stephen McGeoch SELEX S&AS THALES Optronics Overview of EO Systems Research Theme

2. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 2 EO Systems Research Theme The principal research areas in the EO Systems Theme are Laser technology Detectors Discriminative Imaging Sensors Optical Components Research is complemented by work on Sensor processing in the TEP research theme 13 current research topics 42 research projects and 10 precursor projects in total have been active since the inception of the EMRS-DTC Some examples of past and current projects�..

3. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 3 Affordable 2D IR Detectors Aim Smaller, cheaper detectors More dies per wafer Smaller arrays, less cooling Dry etching is directional Status Project complete. 16 micron pixels achieved on 320 x 256 arrays using a combination of dry etching and a final wet etch to remove surface damage. NETD results are very promising. Exploitation SELEX have taken this work forward into the Albion programme. The new 640 x 512 pixel Hawk detector uses the dry etch process.

4. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 4 Photonic Fibres for Active Sensor Systems Aim Transport of high power laser radiation through photonic crystal fibres without non linear effects or damage occurring Status Project complete. Some problems encountered with fire damage to the Southampton University fibre manufacturing facility but achieved OPO pumping by a pump source transported by a holey fibre, transmission of short and mid wave radiation through a silica photonic bandgap fibre. Exploitation This work has been carried through to a DTI funded project (LAMPS). This is looking at next generation laser systems with higher efficiency. SELEX are part of the consortium. SELEX is also funding work with BAE SYSTEMS ATC on the use of the holey fibres for mid IR supercontinuum generation

5. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 5 Novel low voltage InAs avalanche photodiodes for affordable 2D IR photodetectors Aim To establish the potential for using InAs as a low noise avalanche gain medium, in APDs operating at low voltage. Potential use for uncooled active imaging and rangefinding Status Project ongoing. Devices have been characterised. Excess noise shown to be very low in pin devices Exploitation SELEX and QinetiQ have had discussions with Sheffield on the creation of Mesa structures for FPAs. There is a potential to hybridise to an existing ROIC to create an uncooled active imaging detector.

6. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 6 LWIR Polarimetric Imager Aim Modification of an existing QWIP detector to measure polarisation state Assess the performance impact of the introduction of polarisation sensitivity Status Project ongoing. Detectors have been fabricated and shown NETD of ~44mK in each of four polarisation planes. Exploitation THALES already has a plan in place to demonstrate this camera in the field. The project will be extended in 2007 to include a multispectral element to the imaging functionality.

7. 10-11/07/07 EMRS DTC Conference 2007 7 EO Systems Research Theme Summary Broadly-based research programme across a number of themes Current particular emphasis on enabling technologies for discriminative imaging Includes multispectral, hyperspectral and polarimetric imaging Completed projects have helped MoD assess technologies that can go for trial Field trial in March 2008 Topics taken forward to exploitation Topics ready for further exploitation Advice Several strands of very promising research ongoing Future Key element of EMRS-DTC structure is open competition Potential researchers are encouraged to submit proposals or discuss ideas with EMRS-DTC staff at any time