Proceedings Article | 7 November 2007
Proc. SPIE. 6739, Electro-Optical Remote Sensing, Detection, and Photonic Technologies and Their Applications
KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Reflection, Sensors, Spectrometers, Silicon, Reflectivity, Transmittance, Chemical analysis, Electronic filtering, Atmospheric sensing
Standoff detection, identification and quantification of chemical agents are fundamental needs in several fields of
applications. Additional required sensor characteristics include high sensitivity, low false alarms and high-speed (ideally
real-time) operation, all in a compact and robust package. The thermal infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
has been utilized to implement such chemical sensors, either with spectrometers (with none or moderate imaging
capability) or with imagers (with moderate spectral capability). Only with the recent emergence of high-speed, large
format infrared imaging arrays, has it been possible to design chemical sensors offering uncompromising performance in
the spectral, spatial, as well as the temporal domain.
Telops has developed an innovative instrument that can not only provide an early warning for chemical agents and toxic
chemicals, but also one that provides a "Chemical Map" in the field of view. To provide to best field imaging
spectroscopy instrument, Telops has developed the FIRST, Field-portable Imaging Radiometric Spectrometer
Technology, instrument. This instrument is based on a modular design that includes: a high-
performance infrared FPA
and data acquisition electronics, onboard data processing electronics, a high- performance Fourier transform modulator,
dual integrated radiometric calibration targets and a visible boresight camera. These modules, assembled together in an
environmentally robust structure, used in combination with Telops' proven radiometric and spectral calibration
algorithms make this instrument a world-class passive standoff detection system for chemical imaging.
This paper presents chemical detection and identification results obtained with the FIRST sensor.
