Bispectral thermal imaging with quantum-well infrared photodetectors and InAs/GaSb type-II superlattices

We report on bispectral imaging systems based on quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) and InAs/GaSb type-II superlattices (SLs) for the mid-wavelength infrared spectral range between 3-5 μm (MW) and the longwavelength infrared regime at 8-12 μm (LW). A dual-band MW/LW QWIP imager and a dual-color MW/MW InAs/GaSb SL camera are demonstrated. The two systems offer a spatial resolution of 288×384 pixels and a simultaneous detection of both channels on each pixel. Both technologies achieve an excellent noise equivalent temperature difference below 30 mK in each channel with F#/2.0 optics.