Evaluation of infrared focal-plane-array detectors
Werner Gross, Thomas Hierl, Max Schulz
Several staring infrared focal plane arrays differing in size and in detector material are investigated. The temporal noise and the correctability, c, defined as the ratio of the spatial inhomogeneity to the temporal noise, are determined in order to quantify the temporal-noise-equivalent temperature difference and the inhomogeneity-equivalent temperature difference, after various correction procedures. Additionally another figure of merit, the long-term stability time, tlts, which indicates the transient degradation of the correctability of a focal-plane-array detector is measured. This time quantifies the duration after a nonuniformity correction during which the spatial noise increases to values higher than that of the temporal noise.