The sharp increase of the man-induced pressure on the environment and hence the need to predict and monitor natural anomalies makes global monitoring of the ecosphere of planet Earth an issue of vital importance. The notion of the ecosphere covers three basic shells closely interacting with each other: the near-Earth space, the atmosphere and the Earth surface. In the near-Earth space (covering 100 to 2000 km altitudes) the primary objects of monitoring are: functioning artificial space objects, the fragments of their constructions or space rubbish (which by estimation amounts to 3.5 million pieces including 30,000 to 70,000 objects having dimensions sufficient for heavy damaging or even destroying functioning space objects) and objects of space origin (asteroids, meteorites and comets) whose trajectories come closely enough to the Earth. Maximum concentrations of space rubbish observed on orbits with altitudes of 800, 1000 and 1500 km and inclinations of 60 to 100 deg. are related in the first place to spacecraft launch requirements. Taking into account the number of launches implemented by different countries in the framework of their own space programs the probability of collision of functioning spacecraft with space rubbish may be estimation increase from (1.5 - 3.5)% at present to (15 - 40)% by 2020. Besides, registration of space radiation flow intensity and the solar activity is no less important in this space area. Subject to control in the atmosphere are time and space variations in temperature fields, humidity, tracing gas concentrations, first of all ozone and greenhouse gases, the state of the cloud cover, wind velocity, etc. The range of objects to be under environmental management of Earth surface is just as diverse and essentially should include the state of the surface and the near-surface layer of seas and oceans, internal reservoirs, the cryosphere and the land surface along with vegetation cover, natural resources and human activities. No matter how large the space (from several meters to hundreds of kilometers) and time (from an hour to several months) scales of the above monitoring might be there is a common dominating factor which could favor creation of a general- purpose observation and control system based on passive optoelectronic instrumentation of different levels of sophistication. This dominating factor refers to the possibility of obtaining information about the state of objects by way to recording parameters of radiation emitted by them in wavelengths of 250 nm to tens of microns. The fact that phenomena and processes occurring in the atmosphere are closely interrelated gives implications as to the structure of such a system which is supposed to be a common information network basically consisting of an orbiting constellation of a number of small-size spacecraft equipped with optoelectronic instrumentation of different complexity, and a ground segment to provide acquisition and processing of information about the status of every ecosphere shell including comprehensive thematic analysis. The existing domestic (based on the `Meteor', `Resurs-O', `Okean', etc. spacecraft) and foreign (NOAA, SPOT, LANDSAT, ERS, etc.) space systems are designed for solution of only a limited number of atmosphere monitoring issues, namely those related to meteorology and studies of natural resources. As for the near-Earth space there are at present only ground facilities whose monitoring capabilities are also limited. It should be noted that in recent years in the USA similar activities have been in full swing targeted at creation of a system like the one mentioned above (the Earth Observation System). A system comprising four spacecraft of the NOAA series and a distributed ground network for receiving analog (with 4 km spatial resolution) and digital (with 1 km spatial resolution) multispectral data pertaining to the status of the atmosphere and the underlying surface is currently operational. This system presents some unique features which make it in several applications superior to existing counterparts. The issue of creation and use of similar systems is complex and costly and it can be solved under today's Russian circumstances only at government level by joint efforts of multiple scientific and production organizations. One advantageous approach consists in building the above-mentioned systems using space complexes which have been already developed or are under development.

The paper outlines an aerospace system intended for registration of multispectral and hyperspectral imagery within 250 - 1000 nm. The system is a versatile tool for remote sensing and investigation of the Earth surface, ocean and atmosphere. It includes: medium-resolution multispectral linear CCD array-based device providing simultaneous viewing in 3 of 8 relatively narrow spectral subranges within 400 - 1000 nm band; low-resolution hyperspectral CCD array-based image spectrometer providing simultaneously up to 512 spectral counts within 250 - 1000 nm band. The system makes it possible to set resolution and spectral parameters to fit the needs of various application tasks and observation conditions.

This paper poses two important objectives of environmental monitoring and quality assessment of surface waters and describes approaches to their solution using multispectral optoelectronic space platforms. The first objective is closely connected with oil contamination of the water surface. This problem brings forward the issue of development of methods for remote detecting of oil spills based on data received from aerospace remote sensing platforms. An opportunity to improve the efficiency of oil contamination diagnostics at observation from the space platform at different angles is considered. This concept was provoked by the approaching launch of a French-Japanese `Polder' system installed onboard the ADEOS satellite. The unique feature of this optoelectronic system is the ability to measure reflectivity of the underlying surface in the visible wavelengths at different viewing angles. The second objective refers to remote methods for determining the primary bio-productivity of sea waters by spectro- radiometric evaluations of the intensity of the radiation rising from below the `water-atmosphere' boundary and transformed in the real aerosol-molecular atmosphere.

Electro-optical modules based on multispectral photodetectors are used for monitoring of Earth's atmosphere and surface. This monitoring is highly effective and allows to provide the ecological control of environmental pollution and possible aftereffects of such pollution. This paper analyzes the possibility of photonic system application for ecological monitoring and emergency control of railroad transportation.

Main problems of observation of radiation-dangerous objects are considered. The experience of use of various detectors for observation of the accident at the Chernobyl NPP is presented. General task comes to constant monitoring of the radiation-dangerous objects using special equipment that is capable to ensure fixing any geometric change of the object and its external state with resolution 10...15 m, generation of the dust cloud, and direction and speed of movement of this cloud. This problem may be solved using a group of small low orbit satellites that provide multispectral optical, radar, and lidar monitoring.

The problem of air media protection from industrial pollutions becomes especially topical nowadays. Struggle against atmospheric air pollutions can be realized most successfully at decision of the tasks connected with improvement of inspection means and methods and wasteless technologies. The primary control of atmospheric air is realized by the gas analyzers which provide express-analysis of multi-component gas mixtures, and also high sensitivity, accuracy and stability of measurements. The infra-red photonic absorption gas analyzers meet the said requirements in the best way. The principle of these analyzers is based on the evaluation of the gas concentrations through values of the radiation absorption function of the analyzed mixture in several spectral intervals being selected by an optical filter set.

The influence of the monochromatic light with different wavelength on the catalytic activity and selectivity of SiO₂ and zirconium polyphosphates was studied. It was shown that the wavelength of the falling irradiation differently influence on the rates of isopropyl alcohol dehydration and dehydrogenation on SiO₂ surface. The influence of the falling irradiation on the catalytic activity and selectivity of zirconium polyphosphates in the reaction of isopropyl alcohol conversion depends both on the wavelength of the falling irradiation and the composition of the samples. The change of the catalytic properties was explained by the selective influence of the short-wave irradiation on the structural water state and the variation of the number and condition of active centers of the catalysts surface during the exposure.

Method of the absorption spectroscopy was used for creating the waveguide gas analyzers. The action of gas analyzer was based on evanescent field absorption in the coating medium of the optical waveguide. To supply miniaturization and increase sensitivity of these devices we proposed to use as an absorption cell the spiral thin film waveguides, optical fibers, stripe waveguides et al. The different schemes of the gas analyzers based on the optical waveguides were considered.

Moscow Research Television Institute has conducted theoretical and experimental researches concerning the integration of image sensors operating in different ranges on board of vehicles. On the base of these researches a prototype of multipurpose system for ecological monitoring is made. The scope of the system: ecological monitoring of each and water surface, control of sources of pollution and zones of ecological disasters; monitoring of oil, gaz and other pipelines; and control of forests and arable land and so on. The combination of technical means operating in visible, IR and SHF bands allows to gather of the information at any time of day, night or season in different meteorological conditions. The use of high resolution image sensors and the large coverage zone of the substrate surface (up to nine altitudes of aircraft) allows to obtain a large volume of information per one sortie of aircraft. The video information is displayed on board of aircraft together with geographical coordinates and auxiliary data. For obtaining the information in real time at the terrestrial site the wideband RF link is provided. The Multipurpose System for Ecological Monitoring may be used in different on-board complexes of various aircraft (manned or unmanned), planes and copters.

The paper is concerned with the development of the millimeter wave complex, intended for environmental control. To organize a reliable system for control and monitoring of the atmosphere one needs an adequate set of the measurement methods and devices for carrying out the needed measurements. At best, the devices must be capable of the remote sensing of the atmosphere in the continuous mode and should have proper means for communication with the central data acquisition system. The most informative methods for the atmospheric measurements are based on the microwave remote sensing. Particularly, using a 5-millimeter receiver (radiometer) it is possible to measure temperature vs. height dependence up to 1 km with required for temperature and height resolutions. Besides, a 3-millimeter coherent radar can be used for measuring the amount of condensed water (fog, rain, clouds) and smoke. Such hydrometers and other small particles support a dissipation of pollution from the accident to the distant areas. Besides, the radar allows us to measure the speed and direction of wind, which is very important for prediction of the danger for the other areas. So, the microwave complex, consisting of a 5-mm radiometer and a 3-mm coherent radar enables us to obtain needed information about the atmosphere state and to predict situation after the accident took place.

The paper examines the fabrication and properties of silica optical fibers suitable for the development of evanescent- wave fiber-optic sensors. Attention is given to factors increasing the fraction of power transmitted in the evanescent wave. The effects of the refractive-index profile and fiber bending in the evanescent-wave area and their relation to the sensor sensitivity are investigated. A simple thermometer is developed on the basis of these effects. Approaches for the modification of optical properties in the evanescent-wave area are examined. In this part, porous layers prepared by the sol-gel method based on the silicon and titanium alkoxides and standard polysiloxane polymer coatings are described. The sol-gel derived layers are investigated from the point of view of preparing an optical core with a porous part. The possibilities of controlling the refractive index, as well as absorption coefficient of the coatings by immobilizing pH indicators and Cu²⁺-phthalocyanine are shown together with examples of using evanescent-wave sensing structures for the detection of organophosphorous compounds and pH measurements.

This paper deals with the development and application possibilities of a 2D thermovision sensing system based on infrared non-cooled detector and advanced HW/SW signal processing technology. The design and results from preliminary experiments are briefly described.

The concept of noosphere common information field--as it has been defined by V.I. Vernadsky--has been hypothesized. Natural and technical components of the information field have been classified and also has been determined co- subordination by means of which these components are included in a global multidimensional communication systems. A number of lemmas has been formulated. It has been shown that electromagnetic field with its full wavelength range is a main information carrier between natural and technical components of the information field. Conclusions have been drawn concerning prospects and practical usefulness of development of noosphere information field theory.

Charge-coupled devices have possibility to sense X-rays. The X-ray sensitivity of CCDs is higher than the same for X-ray films. We have designed the experimental miniaturized X-ray CCD camera for dental practice and diagnosis. The CCD analog output signals converse to a digital form, the digital signals are processing by a computer and visible images are forming at the display. The problems of creation and design of X-ray sensitive large format CCD cameras for hard and cancer diagnosis are described.

Both creating of effective identification and evaluation mechanisms of environmental factors hazardous for health, and revealing their influence degree on the human health play an important role in ecological monitoring. The grate importance in a solution of many ecological problems belongs to medicine, first of all, to its social-preventive brunch. In this reference trauma remains the extremely important problem. Annually more than 10 million persons sustain traumas. Alongside with occupational, transport trauma, a significant number of trauma cases occur due to the impact of various ecological factors, including natural disasters, mass poisonings and other reasons. Trauma results in severe changes in human body organs and systems; the timely detection and correct evaluation of these changes are the key points for the choice of treatment. Among diagnostic methods used for this purpose, the methods of radial diagnostics play an important role. Various radial methods-- x-ray, radionuclide, ultrasonic, magnetic resonance imaging, computer tomography (CT)--are used to detect the functional and structural changes of vital organs and systems in trauma. Each of these methods has its advantages and shortages. The reported study was devoted to the analysis of using the photon systems (gamma-camera and computer tomography) in application of radionuclide and CT methods of radial diagnostics in trauma.

The paper presents the findings of an investigation into some characteristics of an X-ray imager. The imager is an assembly of modules, each incorporating a linear array of GaAs detectors connected electrically to a CCD multiplexer. The X-ray imager can be used in industrial and medical X-ray diagnostic equipment.

Optical waveguide surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are presented which exploit the phenomenon of the resonant excitation of surface plasmon waves by guided modes of optical fibers and integrated optical waveguides. Theoretical analysis of the SPR waveguide sensing structures is based on the mode expansion and propagation method. The integrated optical waveguide SPR sensor is composed of an optical waveguide fabricated by the K⁺--Na⁺ ion exchange in a glass substrate and gold as a surface plasmon resonance overlayer. The optical fiber SPR sensor is realized on a side-polished single-mode optical fiber which is locally coated with a thin gold film. Experimental study of the realized samples of the sensors has shown that variations in the refractive index of the sensed medium below 5X10^-5 can be resolved with the sensors.

The results of more than 10 years experience in design and manufacturing of thinned back-side illuminated CCDs of different types are summed up. Based upon the EB CCDs created, the family of intensified electron-bombarded CCD image tubes has been designed, fabricated and tested. This family includes: the single-stage Gen I type EB CCD devices with the 532*580 and 780*580 pixels CCDs; the `hybrid' (the EB CCD tube plus GenyI image intensifier) devices; and the EB CCD tubes with the 40 mm photocathode and image demagnification factor 3:1. The results of tests of these devices are presented and discussed. Besides, the near future projects concerning EB CCD tubes with the 80 mm photocathode and with image demagnification factor 5:1, and EB CCD tubes with solar blind photocathodes for the UV and EUV applications are briefly described.

The principles of dynamic thermovision are considered. A brief review of applications of static and dynamic thermovision in medical diagnostics is given. The characteristics of commercial devices are evaluated. The real-time optoelectronic system developed is shown to have many advantages. The system is based on 256 Ga-doped silicon photoresistors linear array cooled up to 25 K by closed cycle cryocooler which does not need the use of liquid phase cryoagent. A few static and dynamic thermal photographs are presented.

The theoretical aspects of the light scattering on the statistical irregularities of the planar optical waveguide are described. The analysis of direct and inverse light scattering problems is accomplished. The theoretical investigation predicts: the lateral resolution can attain approximately 20 nm and the vertical resolution (in rms height) can attain approximately 1 angstrom. The limiting lateral resolution is a approximately 15-times less than Abbe's diffraction limit. Thus the superresolution may be accomplished by the waveguide optical microscopy (WOM). The increasing of WOM's resolution depends on a-priori information of the irregularities and on a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio. A possible using of WOM for bioecological researchers has been mentioned.

Method of control of the particles' size by the measurement of light intensity scattered on a fixed particle at the first order rainbow angle has been developed. Object of research was the single droplet of benzol levitated in the water by ultrasound. It was demonstrated that the Airy's theory is applicable to particles of the size less than 500 micrometers . Modification of the method using the functional dependence of frequency of the self-resonant low loss spheroidal oscillations on droplet's size is considered. Possibility of determination of the surface tension of liquid droplet by light scattering at the first order rainbow angle is demonstrated. Resonant character of light scattering on spheroidal oscillations of droplet is used. Schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus including CCD-camera is described.

The mechanical energy is to our disposition in the arbitrary quantities. It belongs to the most ecological energies. Also the transformation to the other forms of energy is an ecological one. In the paper the transformation of mechanical energy to the other forms as the acoustic, light, high energy photons as well as nuclear particles has been shown. The quantumphysical theory of the transformation of the mechanical energy to the electromagnetic one particularly to the light has been reported.

A charge-coupled device K1200CL4 (K1200IIJI4) was used as a pulsed X-ray detector to investigate high-temperature plasma. The sensor was incorporated in a module providing a special control mode of the CCD. The module was successfully employed in a spectrograph for investigating the spectrum of high-temperature plasma over the energy range from 0.7 keV to 3 keV in the thermonuclear plant ANGARA-5 (Russia) and GAEL (France). The paper gives the basic technical characteristics of the module based on CCD K1200CL4.

In the solids there are many of defects determining their properties. After loading some of the defects are moving, active and some are fixed, passive. The active defects are accompanied through stress waves spreading in the solids. Stress waves called also as acoustic emission or phonon emission can be detected with the very sensitive sensors. Some stress waves can excite in some materials also the light emission called mechanoluminescence what is emission of photons. In the contribution it is shown that both acoustic (phonon) as well photon emission can be used for the measuring and visualization of stress waves.

The models of irradiance transmition through multilayer fiber and CCD coating are presented. The simulation system based on these models allows to calculate the reflectance, transmittance and absorption coefficients as function of wavelengths for real imagers consisting of multilayer filters and CCD's coatings. The main spectral ranges for ecological monitoring are given. To design specialized multispectral electrooptical module for ecological monitoring it is necessary to simulate a filter and CCD structure jointly to provide optimum photons propagation, absorption, and collection of desired narrow spectral range.

Low Pressure Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (LP MOCVD) epitaxial growth of InAs_0.85Sb_0.15 p-i-n structures for infrared photodetectors arrays is reported. Monocrystalline epitaxial layers of InAsSb were grown on semi-insulating GaAs wafers. Method of variable composition superlattice buffer layer epitaxial growth to overcome difficulties of large lattice mismatch (up to 14%) between InAsSb and GaAs was introduced. For the first time growth of wide-gap AlSb dielectric layer was realized. Using of AlSb layer in p-i-n structure makes possible to decrease photodetector dark current considerably. Absorption and photosensitivity spectra of grown p-i-n heterostructures were investigated. Photodetectors fabricated from such structures operate in photovoltaic mode. Photoresponsivity of test photodetectors was 1 A/W at the wavelength 4.5 mkm.

The main results of theoretical investigation of the sensitivity and information capacity of the thermal imagers and other electronic-vision systems are presented. The spectral dependencies of radiant-noise-equivalent temperature difference are calculated. It has been found that the thermal vision does not yield to the daylight human vision in information potential under the conditions of thermal balance of the earth. The ultimate values of the specific information capacity of electronic-vision systems are evaluated, in that number under low radiation fluxes and with the limitation of the size of element sensitive areas by diffraction.

This paper describes hybrid coordinate addressed focal plane arrays based on thin films of lead chalcogenides and sensitive in different wavebands of the infrared spectral regions. The arrays feature high sensitivity, close to BLIP- mode, wide dynamic range and low heat dissipation. Their advantages include random access, element block selection, image scaling and on-chip data encoding. The focal plane arrays for various spectral ranges have an identical design, topology and electrical characteristics of photosensitive layers, and can be used for construction of multispectral optoelectronic systems. The arrays for near and middle infra-red spectral diapason work in wide range of temperatures, that permits to create on their basis photodetecting systems both with cryogenic and thermoelectric cooling. Different design configurations with elements from 128 X 128 to 256 X 256 are discussed and experimental characteristics of the arrays are presented.

The technology, devices, photo-electrical characteristics of silicon solar cells for low power applications are discussed. The solar cells are based on diode structures fabricated on phosphorous- or borom-doped silicon substrates with resistivity 4.5...10 Ohm sm. A single cell 0.9 X 0.43 mm² provides the open-circuit voltage 0.5 V and short-circuit current 20 mA with efficiency 12...15%. The cells are collected in the submodules to supply the required output power or voltage for ICs, sensors and systems for electronic control and monitoring.

The multispectral methods of Earth sensing become increasingly popular, and the use of more spectral bands will most probably be responsible for their advancement. The paper highlights the outlook of the development of photosensitive multispectral charge-coupled devices and presents Earth surface images taken from satellites in various spectral ranges.

Technologies enabling low-dissipation designs for uncooled array IR sensors are offered. The technique involves the etching of special buffer layers from under a 1-micrometers membrane followed by deposition of an IR-sensitive film and electrode structure. The electrical and physical properties of plumbum-zirconate-titanate, barium titanate, tetraaminodiphenyl, polyvinylidene fluoride pyroelectric films are compared. A circuit for sensing pyroelectric signals in a CCD is considered.

An investigation of probe laser irradiation interaction with substances containing in an environment has long since become a recognized technique for contamination detection and identification. For this purpose, a near and midrange-IR laser irradiation is traditionally used. However, as many works presented on last ecology monitoring conferences show, in addition to traditional systems, rapidly growing are systems with laser irradiation from near-UV range (250 - 500 nm). Use of CCD imagers is one of the prerequisites for this allowing the development of a multi-channel computer-based spectral research system. To identify and analyze contaminating impurities on an environment, such methods as laser fluorescence analysis, UV absorption and differential spectroscopy, Raman scattering are commonly used. These methods are used to identify a large number of impurities (petrol, toluene, Xylene isomers, SO₂, acetone, methanol), to detect and identify food pathogens in real time, to measure a concentration of NH₃, SO₂ and NO in combustion outbursts, to detect oil products in a water, to analyze contaminations in ground waters, to define ozone distribution in the atmosphere profile, to monitor various chemical processes including radioactive materials manufacturing, heterogeneous catalytic reactions, polymers production etc. Multi-element image sensor with enhanced UV sensitivity, low optical non-uniformity, low intrinsic noise and high dynamic range is a key element of all above systems. Thus, so called Virtual Phase (VP) CCDs possessing all these features, seems promising for ecology monitoring spectral measuring systems. Presently, a family of VP CCDs with different architecture and number of pixels is developed and being manufactured. All CCDs from this family are supported with a precise slow-scan digital image acquisition system that can be used in various image processing systems in astronomy, biology, medicine, ecology etc. An image is displayed directly on a PC monitor through a software support.

Spatial resolution is the main characteristic of imaging system. It depends on various factors such as pixel area and pixel aperture, system noise, signal and background illumination levels, spectral range, and system MTF. To determine the resolution for given levels of signal and background illumination and spectral density of radiation, at first, it is necessary to calculate the number of photons which are transferred through multilayer coating of the imager and photogenerate carries giving a contribution into signal current or charge packet. Then full system noise consisting of input, photogeneration, thermogeneration, scanning, and output noises is determined. After that the system MTF including consideration nonlinear effects may be calculated and system resolution is determined. The resolution may be calculated for given wavelength or spectral range of input radiation. The main equations, algorithms for modeling and some results of simulation are described.

Thermoviewer with a hybrid 256-element photosensor (IR CCD) operating in the IR range uses doped silicon with a 0.05 quantum efficiency and compares well with best modern thermoviewers designed around narrow-bandgap semiconductors. An improved IR CCD with quantum efficiency 0.4 - 0.6 has been designed. From the technological points of view IR CCDs for wavelengths from 8 to 14 micrometers based on doped silicon are quite effective due to the relatively low production cost of silicon devices. The future of such photosensors is discussed in terms of ecological monitoring of ground, airborne and spaceborne purposes.

CCD sensors with time-delay-and-integration (TDI) for imaging moving objects are considered. Linear array CCD and mosaic array TDI CCD sensors performance parameters are contrasted. The comparative analysis of mosaic array TDI CCD and linear array CCD in Earth sensing systems is given. Various TDI CCD designs are discussed.

Signal processing for photodetectors and CCD imagers requires application of sample and hold amplifiers or double correlated sample and hold amplifiers that it is necessary for the noise suppression. The technology permits to integrate the microwave n-p-n transistors with low level noise junction field-effect transistors and Schottky diodes in one silicon chip. This gives an opportunity on creation of a base chip for construction high-speed microcircuits of sample and hold amplifiers containing amplifier modules and analog switch modules. At development of a base chip these two main functional modules were designed. The amplifier module consists of three cascades with the first cascade on a p-junction field-effect transistor. An analog switch module consists of the Schottky diode bridge and the control circuit on high-speed bipolar transistors. The result of the development and research is high speed double correlated sample and hold amplifiers for CCD imaging systems.

A design and electrical circuit of the silicon IR platinum silicide Schottky barrier CCD array sensor are considered useful for fast dynamic scenes surveillance. Sensor has 256*256 pixels sensitive for 1.2 - 5.5 micrometers range. Main attention is paid to the factors determining sensor lag and attainability of highest possible spatial resolution. It is shown that wide spectral range, low lag (< 10^-6 s) and near ideal MTF are inherent to IR SB CCDs and make them very promising sensor for surveillance in ecological `emergencies'.