Multi-Aperture Coherent Interferometric Telescopic Array Infrared Sensor

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a space-based, low-weight, low-volume MWIR and SWIR, interferometric IR sensor, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Multi-Aperture Coherent Interferometric Telescopic Array Infrared (MACInTIR) sensor. The proposed MACInTIR sensor system is based on a unique combination of a coherent telescopic array, orthogonal 2x2 array Fizeau interferometer beam combiner optics, low-power, compact, liquid, crystal-based, multispectral tunable filters, wave-front sensors and correctors, high-resolution SWIR and MWIR sensor-arrays, a real-time image processor, and control electronics. The phased-array telescopes and Fizeau interferometer optics allow the MACInTIR sensor to be utilized as a long-range, passive space-based, IR-imaging payload, with a large, effective aperture of minimum size, weight, and power. By electronically correcting and combining the optical fields of the telescope array, high-resolution imagery can be achieved. In Phase I, POC will develop a preliminary design for the MACInTIR sensor, evaluate its effectiveness by modeling, and demonstrate the feasibility of fabrication using a laboratory prototype. In Phase II, POC will develop and test a prototype MACInTIR sensor system, demonstrate its capability to perform multi-aperture interferometry and provide high-resolution long-range IR images, and identify a path toward space-flight-ready IR sensor hostable payloads as well as performance improvement. BENEFIT: The MACInTIR sensor system, with its small SWaP and high performance will be extremely useful for a wide range of DoD space and aircraft sensor platforms. As a result, high-resolution long-range IR imaging could be easily achieved with a smaller, low-cost system. Commercial applications include commercial IR surveillance satellites, space telescopes (NASA), homeland security, law enforcement, aerial surveillance, agriculture, and geospatial imaging.