(From left to right) 蜜桃视频 researchers Dr. Arkadii Krokhin, Dr. Usha Philipose, and Dr. A. J. Syllaios
DENTON (蜜桃视频), Texas 鈥� Researchers at are entering the second phase of a project to develop infrared sensors that go beyond current capabilities for thermal imaging.
, a professor in the 鈥檚 , is leading the project. She鈥檚 joined by Distinguished Research Professor , Professor and Research Professor from the same department.
The 蜜桃视频 College of Science鈥檚 physics department team's work is phase two in a project to go beyond current thermal imaging.
鈥淥ur goal is to investigate the fundamental properties of materials associated with thermal sensing and thus contribute to the development of efficient, reliable and sensitive imaging systems,鈥� Philipose said.
The team is supported by a grant from the U.S Army鈥檚 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program. They鈥檙e also working alongside Syllaios鈥檚 company, TKSInfrared. The total amount awarded to phase two is $1.38 million over two years.
The goal of the overall project is to improve bolometer-based sensors that detect heat instead of visible light. Thousands of these microscopic sensors work together to create thermal images used in applications from military night vision to supporting firefighting.
鈥淔or example, say firefighters need to go into a burning house to rescue people, but they cannot see because of all the smoke. These sensors can pick up the thermal differences between a person and the fire,鈥� Syllaios said. 鈥淲hat we want to do is make current sensors even more sensitive to temperature differences.鈥�
The team will focus on the leg component of the bolometer which controls its thermal isolation. 鈥淭here are very specific properties of the leg material that will dictate how efficiently the imaging process will work Improved thermal isolation lets the sensor detect smaller temperature differences,鈥� Philipose said.
The team鈥檚 new materials aim to achieve that without sacrificing the sensor鈥檚 durability.
The first phase was a feasibility study where the team demonstrated that they could engineer materials with appropriate electrical and thermal properties. In phase two, they鈥檒l test different materials to prove their capability while showing they can be manufactured using existing processes in the semiconductor industry.
鈥淭he ultimate goal is that the sensor can detect less than a degree change in temperature,鈥� Philipose said.
To help make that goal a reality, the team will train undergraduate and graduate students,
allowing them to get hands-on experience.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked with several students over the years on applied science projects like this who work in industry now,鈥� Syllaios said. 鈥淢any are hired even before they graduate. This is relevant work to what the industry wants.鈥�
There are currently four graduate students and two undergraduate students from the College of Science on the project.
鈥淭here is a path forward for these students,鈥� Philipose said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just studying the science. They鈥檙e applying it to current state-of-the-art commercial products. We are very happy we were able to get this grant and provide that opportunity for them.鈥�
From 鈥� Research