Approaches to low-cost infrared sensing

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Sensors Directorate has multiple missions, including the development of next generation infrared sensors. These sensors reflect advancements in both academic and research communities, as well as requirements flow-down from operators. There has been a multitude of developments over the past decade in each community. However, there has also been consilience that low-cost infrared sensing will be necessary for the Air Force. This paradigm stands in contrast to the current generation of high performance infrared sensors, i.e., cryogenically cooled, hybridized HgCdTe, InSb, and III/V strained layer superlattices. The Sensors Directorate currently has a multi-pronged approach to low-cost infrared sensing to meet this paradigm shift, including research in silicides, SiGeSn, and lead salts. Each of these approaches highlights our integration of materials, devices, and characterization.