Very long range surveillance and target recognition applications in the infrared spectral range require optical lens
systems with large focal length and high numerical aperture optimized for low aberrations and stray light at a working
temperature considerably different from the temperature of mounting and adjustment of the system. Additionally, for the
airborne use the system shall be rugged, lightweight and compact. These conflicting requirements do not only represent a
demanding design task. The much bigger challenges consist in the selection and characterisation of the optical material,
in the fabrication and measurement of the particular optical elements, in their integration into the lens system as well as
in the characterisation of this lens system and in the verification of its performance parameters. Recent technological
approaches developed at JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH for the fabrication and the test of such lens systems
will be presented in this paper. It will be shown that an iterative combination of manufacturing and measurement
techniques is needed for the fabrication of IR lens systems meeting the highest performance requirements.
The fast development of sensors with high sensitivity and growing pixel numbers for the IR range drives the
development of suitable optical systems. This is enforced by the growing demands of the defense and security sector.
JENOPTIK LASER, OPTIK, SYSTEME GmbH serves this market based on many years of experience. The product
spectrum contains all usual types of optical components. Most of the typical IR transmitting and reflecting materials are
machined. The quality scale reaches from medium to high-end, where the latter is mostly needed for defense
applications. High-efficiency, highly durable and environmentally stable anti-reflection coatings for the complete
spectrum of substrate materials are developed and produced in-house. JENOPTIK is developing and manufacturing
custom-tailored lens systems and electro-optical modules for civil and military applications. This includes optical
modules for IR cameras and for long range surveillance and target recognition, which fulfill the highest demands with
respect to imaging quality, aperture, stray light, compactness, and durability. The testing and the verification of
performance parameters include interferometrical testing, transmission, scattering, and MTF measurement at working
temperature. A combination of design, manufacturing and measurement techniques is needed for the fabrication of IR
lens systems meeting the highest performance requirements.
Optical filters and windows are fundamental components of all modern infrared detectors. Their primary function consists in the transmission of the adequate portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is to be measured by the sensor and in the rejection of undesired radiation. Therefore, the optical performance of the chosen filter has direct impact on the responsivity and on the signal-to-noise ratio of the detector. Recent developments of infrared filters optimized by JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH in accordance with several application requirements are presented.
On the other hand the optical filter also represents an integral part of the opto-mechanical system of the detector set-up. Thus, for reasons of cost efficiency and higher integration it is desirable to provide the filters with additional system functionality. At JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH processes have been developed for the production of infrared filters with such enhanced functionality. On customer demand the filters may be equipped with solderable edges, structured apertures, stray light suppressing elements or other features, all of very high precision. Depending on the application both highest-efficiency and very costeffective infrared filters and windows may be realized on industrial scale. Solution examples and design options are presented.
This paper discusses improvements in manufacturing of coated infrared optical components. Such components often have key functions in defence, security or space applications and must withstand severe environmental conditions. Therefore, very durable coatings are desired. As a consequence of its radioactivity the formerly used low refractive index material thorium fluoride is substituted. Examples for beam splitter cubes contacted with novel infrared transparent cement, interference filters, mirrors and AR coatings are presented.
Four band systems corresponding to transitions from excited electronic triplet states of the
molecular Na(3S)+Cs(5D) and/or Na(3P)+Cs(6S) state manifolds to the lowest a3E triplet
state were observed under laser excitation of NaCs molecules at 476- 577nm. Emission of the
bands is due to pertubations and collisional energy transfer in the upper states. The equilibrium
internuclear distance in the a3E+ state re 5.6A was estimated and the lifetime of one of the
excited triplet states involved in the observed transitions was found to be equal to 29.4(4.2)ns.
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