Abstract

Very long range IR imaging and tracking are of considerable importance in a variety of current surveillance, communication, and laser applications. They are characterized by tow available photon flux and low resolution (~5-resel linear Image extent or less). Tracking accuracy requirements are high (better than 1 μrad), and large dynamic tilt components in the received light cause most image degradation (due to telescope Jitter and atmospheric fluctuations). Effective tracking and imaging of such objects therefore require high bandwidth centroid tracking, good photon efficiency, and high stability in a single tracking/imaging instrument. These requirements have all been filled by the Advanced Imaging Tracker (AIT),¹ a novel IR imaging system.

© 1981 Optical Society of America