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Full-Text Articles in Physics

A Study Of The Irradiance-And-Temperature-Dependence Of Mid-Wave-Infrared (Mwir)Absorption In Indium Antimonide (Insb), John M. Callahan Sep 2008

A Study Of The Irradiance-And-Temperature-Dependence Of Mid-Wave-Infrared (Mwir)Absorption In Indium Antimonide (Insb), John M. Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

This work entails further investigation of the absorption of photons in indium antimonide (InSb). Previously work at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) attributed laser blooming effects in InSb focal plane arrays (FPA’s) to the Burstein-Moss effect. The contributing effect is from a decrease in the absorption of the InSb material, such that the transmitted optical energy scatters off the integrated circuitry beneath the InSb thin film back into the optical system. To evaluate this, irradiance-dependent laser-absorption experiments were performed on thinned, InSb wafers prior to their FPA fabrication. The samples were illuminated with a focused CO2 laser at …


Reproducibility Distinguishability And Correlation Of Fireball And Shockwave Dynamics In Explosive Munitions Detonations, Bryan J. Steward Mar 2006

Reproducibility Distinguishability And Correlation Of Fireball And Shockwave Dynamics In Explosive Munitions Detonations, Bryan J. Steward

Theses and Dissertations

The classification of battlespace detonations, specifically the determination of munitions type and size using temporal and spectral features of infrared emissions, is a particularly challenging problem. The intense infrared radiation produced by the detonation of high explosives is largely unstudied. Furthermore, the time-varying fireball imagery and spectra are driven by many factors including the type, size and age of the chemical explosive, method of detonation, interaction with the environment, and the casing used to enclose the explosive. To distinguish between conventional military munitions and improvised or enhanced explosives, the current study investigates fireball expansion dynamics using high speed, multi-band imagery. …


Passive Ranging Using Atmospheric Oxygen Absorption Spectra, Michael R. Hawks Mar 2006

Passive Ranging Using Atmospheric Oxygen Absorption Spectra, Michael R. Hawks

Theses and Dissertations

The depth of absorption bands in observed spectra of distant, bright sources can be used to estimate range to the source. A novel approach is presented and demonstrated using observations of the oxygen absorption band near 762 nm. Range is estimated by comparing observed values of band-average absorption against curves derived from either historical data or model predictions. Curves are based on fitting a random band model to the data, which reduces average range error by 67% compared to the Beer's Law model used in previous work. A new modification to existing band models for long, inhomogeneous paths is presented …


Optimization Of A Multilayer Photothermal Sensor For Infrared Spectroscopy, Janine O.J. Wiggins Mar 1999

Optimization Of A Multilayer Photothermal Sensor For Infrared Spectroscopy, Janine O.J. Wiggins

Theses and Dissertations

Tri-layer thermal diffusion modeling was applied to the optimization of a multi-layer reed sensor for use in a photothermal infrared detector. The multi-layer reed sensor deflects in response to increased temperature. Deflection, of angstroms or larger, is measured using an atomic force microscope. A newly developed thermal diffusion model for three layer reeds was combined with an existing two-layer cantilever model, in order to explore the effects of length, operating frequency, and layer thickness on signal to noise ratio. Model behavior is presented, and compared to laboratory results.


Theoretical Modeling Of Linear Absorption Coefficients In Si/Si1-Xgex Multiple Quantum Well Photodetectors, Kevin D. Greene Dec 1996

Theoretical Modeling Of Linear Absorption Coefficients In Si/Si1-Xgex Multiple Quantum Well Photodetectors, Kevin D. Greene

Theses and Dissertations

Si/Si1-xGex MQW Infrared Photodetectors offer the promise of normal incidence photodetection tunable over the range of 3-12 micrometers wavelength range at temperatures above 40 K. This system is attractive because the Si1-xGex offers greater compatibility with existing Si based signal processing circuitry. Band structures, momentum matrix elements and linear absorption coefficients are computed using a Luftinger-Kohn k/p analysis for Si/Si1-xGex quantum wells grown in the 110 direction. The absorption coefficient as a function of energy and wavelength is calculated by two methods: a delta function fit to intersubband transitions, and a …


Non-Imaging Infrared Spectral Target Detection, Matthew R. Whiteley Sep 1995

Non-Imaging Infrared Spectral Target Detection, Matthew R. Whiteley

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic detection of time-critical mobile targets using spectral-only infrared radiance data is explored. A quantification of the probability of detection, false alarm rate, and total error rate associated with this detection process is provided. A set of classification features is developed for the spectral data, and these features are utilized in a Bayesian classifier singly and in combination to provide target detection. The results of this processing are presented and sensitivity of the class separability to target set, target configuration, diurnal variations, mean contrast, and ambient temperature estimation errors is explored. This work introduces the concept of atmospheric normalization of …