AIR

PCE

Large Area IR Scene Projector

Remote IR Calibration Target

Extreme SiC Emitters

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Patents

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Extreme IR Emitters

MWIR (3-5 μm) and LWIR (8-12 μm) light sources capable of generating directed energy of more than a few microwatts are either extremely expensive (e.g. CO2 lasers, quantum cascade lasers, etc.) or non-existent. ICX Photonics has developed a line of inexpensive, resistively-heated infrared light sources which are capable of producing hundreds of milliwatt of power over a narrow wavelength range in either the MWIR or LWIR. However, current materials technology limits the infrared radiance of these devices since it limits their upper real temperature to 900ºC.

We have been investigating materials which are able to reach temperatures to 1500C or higher. Recently we demonstrated such a thermal emitter made from silicon carbide (SiC). We continue to investigate this and other materials with a goal of eventually demonstrating sources with apparent temperatures in excess of 2000ºC.

This work was sponsored by MDA.