SPIE - Education Fundamentals of Infrared Sensing SC1241

The course covers the fundamentals of infrared sensing from first principles. Topics include infrared optical systems, infrared materials, image quality; radiometry and flux-transfer calculations; blackbody sources and spectral distribution; thermal and photon detector mechanisms, spectral responsivity; sensor noise sources; sensor figures of merit (noise-equivalent power and D*); system figures of merit (detection range, noise-equivalent temperature difference, minimum resolvable temperature difference). We place emphasis on practical back-of-the-envelope calculations and conceptual understanding.