Optical Design Fundamentals For Infrared Systems

The practical, popular 1995 tutorial has been thoroughly revised and updated, reflecting developments in technology and applications during the past decade. New chapters address wave aberrations, thermal effects, design examples, and diamond turning.

This Tutorial Text is an outgrowth of the author's short course of the same title. It is intended as an introduction to readers unfamiliar with infrared zoom lenses, and as an aid to the practising engineer pursuing a related application. The first three chapters introduce the principles of optics and the unique aspects of the infrared region of the wavelength spectrum, with related optical design techniques addressed in Chapter 4. Chapters 5 through 8 present material unique to the subject of zoom lenses in the infrared. The appendix contains three landmark infrared zoom lens patents in their entirety, providing lens prescription data and a starting point for future design activity, in addition to the author's computer analysis of the three patents.

This tutorial text focuses on the optics and detector aspects of infrared system design. It introduces the terminology, processes, and instrument design techniques available. Design examples are based on real problems investigated by the author.

This tutorial covers infrared design examples in considerable detail, building on principles presented in an earlier text, 'Introduction to Infrared System Design' (SPIE PRESS Vol. TT24). The text explores a range of problems illustrating several design issues, with applications in military, industry, aeronautics, space, and medicine, among others.

This tutorial explains the human eye, its function, and performance limits from the perspective of an experienced optical engineer and lens designer. It is concise and readable, with examples and data, and is intended for students, practicing engineers, and technology users.

This work provides a basic understanding of the physical background and engineering considerations required for the design of IR systems, examining all components and combining them into examples of current surveillance systems. This second edition presents: new coverage of state-of-the-art optical systems, including lightweight mirrors and adaptiv

The choice of available infrared (IR) detectors for insertion into modern IR systems is both large and confusing. The purpose of this volume is to provide a technical database from which rational IR detector selection criteria evolve, and thus clarify the options open to the modern IR system designer. Emphasis concentrates mainly on high-performance IR systems operating in a tactical environment, although there also is discussion of both strategic environments and low- to medium-performance system requirements.