Quantum Counter With Temporal Discrimination

This invention relates generally to radiation detection systems and more particularly to such systems that are arranged for direct viewing and imaging and that incorporate an infrared quantum counter.

Quantum counters or converters that are responsive to infrared radiations have been known in the past, and one such system is disclosed in Bloembergen U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,698. Detecting systems based on such converters commonly include the salt of a selected rare earth element which is arranged to receive incident infrared radiations, the rare earth ion becoming excited from its ground state to a higher energy state in response. This excitation may subsequently decay by radiative or non-radiative energy transitions to a relatively long-lived metastable state. It is also known in the prior art to induce transitions from the metastable state to a still higher energy level by means of an auxiliary source of optical energy commonly referred to as pump radiation. The latter may be either continuously operating or pulsed. Radiative transitions from the higher energy level result in the emission of fluorescent signals at either visible or near-infrared wavelengths.

The described quantum counters have presented the potential for combination with detectors that are sensitive in the near-infrared and visible spectrums with resultant economies in fabrication and heightened sensitivity compared with systems incorporating detectors which are directly responsive to infrared radiation. Despite the apparent advantages, prior art detection systems incorporating infrared quantum counters have not been widely utilized because they have exhibited an undesirably high level of spurious signals or "noise."

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a radiation detecting system which incorporates a quantum counter but which nevertheless exhibits high sensitivity and a high signal-to-noise ratio.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved radiation detecting system.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide an infrared imaging system having no moving parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for temporally discriminating against spurious fluorescence produced within or external to a quantum mechanical substance by pump radiation.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions.

The present invention provides a system for converting infrared radiation into shorter, more readily detectable wavelength radiation while preserving the spatial information or image qualities of the target input. The system of the present invention significantly exhibits a high signal-to-noise ratio in the shorter wavelength radiation comprising the output of an infrared quantum counter; and the quantum mechanical substance of the counter comprises ions capable of absorbing infrared radiation and storing a portion of the absorbed energy for a finite time in a metastable state. The active ions in the quantum mechanical substance are further capable of being excited by a pulsed optical signal to an energy state higher than the metastable state, the active ions thereafter relaxing toward the ground state and emitting shorter wavelength radiations, i.e., fluorescing for a predetermined lifetime. A pulsed optical pump is selected to have a frequency output corresponding to the energy difference between the metastable state and the upper energy state, the pump radiations being further selected to have a pulse width or duration which is short compared to the fluorescent lifetime of the quantum mechanical substance. The system of the present invention additionally contemplates utilization of a gateable detector which is responsive to the wavelength of the fluorescent signal and which is capable of being altered from a non-operating mode to an operating mode in a time period that is short compared to the fluorescent lifetime of the quantum mechanical substance. Logic and control circuitry synchronizes the pulsed optical pump and the gate signal to the detector, and suitable imaging means and filters are included for their conventional purposes.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a direct viewing and imaging system arranged in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the means for temporal discrimination in the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the laser synchronizer and related output circuits used in the system of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, a radiation detecting system indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 is arranged for direct viewing and imaging of a thermal target 12 having a mean temperature of, for example, approximately 300.degree.C. Infrared radiation at a wavelength of, for example, about 4.8 microns is collected from target 12 and focused onto a quantum counter 14 by an infrared objective lens system 16. The quantum counter 14 advantageously utilizes a quantum mechanical substance which preferably comprises praseodymium trichloride as the active material. In specific embodiments, the described quantum mechanical system has exhibited a quantum efficiency of about 6 .times. 10.sup.-4 per watt/cm..sup.2 of optical pump power when operated at a temperature of 163.degree.K. Furthermore, the fluorescent lifetime of praseodymium trichloride has been found to be on the order of 8.5 microseconds. Advantageously, the quantum counter 14 is maintained at a temperature of about 77.degree.K.

In the illustrated embodiment, pump radiation for the quantum counter 14 is provided by a flash lamp excited, pulsed, dye laser 18 which is focused on the active material of quantum counter 14. The pump radiation overlaps the infrared target radiation and is absorbed. Suitable characteristics for the dye laser 18 are exhibited by the Model DL 1100 coaxial flash lamp pump dye laser manufactured by the Phase-R Company of New Durham, N.H., using Coumarin 6 in methanol for the dye. However, any pulsed optical source with the proper wavelength and pulse length may be used as a source of pump radiation for the quantum counter 14, the described dye laser being capable of delivering pump radiation at a wavelength of 546 nanometers with a pulse duration of approximately 300 nanoseconds.

Upon relaxation from its excited state, the active material of quantum counter 14 emits fluorescent radiations which are collected by suitable relay optics 20, filtered by a bandpass filter 22 and focused on the input optics of a three-stage, first generation, "gated", image intensifier tube 24, for ultimate display or readout as is desired. Advantageously, the bandpass filter 22 provides for selective passage of radiation having a wavelength of 645 .+-. 1 nanometers. The fluorescent emission from the active material of quantum counter 14 has been found to comprise a short-term emission occuring concurrent with the pulse duration of the dye laser 18, i.e., a lifetime of approximately 50 nanoseconds or less. The second component of the fluorescent output from quantum counter 14 comprises the normal fluorescent lifetime of the quantum mechanical substance, e.g. a lifetime on the order of 8.5 microseconds for praseodymium trichloride.

In compliance with the principles of the present invention, temporal discrimination is employed for substantially eliminating the influence of the above-described short-term emissions. These have been found to be spectrally broad without identifiable structure, linear with pump intensity and increasing in intensity with exposure of the quantum mechanical substance to atmosphere, thus characterizing them as "noise."

Continuing now with reference to FIG. 1 and with additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the means for temporally discriminating against undesirable "noise" signals includes a laser by means of an operator manually depressing a trigger button 28. In response, the laser synchronizer 26 produces a "fire laser" signal which is connected directly to the dye laser 18 for activating that unit. Upon its firing, the laser 18 generates a "synchronizer" signal which is directed to the "spark-gap" input of the laser synchronizer 26. This "spark-gap" signal starts an integrated circuit timer 30 which, in turn, generates a "gate tube" signal after a preselected time delay between 0.5 and 1.5 microseconds. The gate tube signal is amplified and the result employed to switch a gate power supply 32 from -2,000 volts to ground. This gate tube signal pulse is applied to the focusing electrode 34 of image intensifier 24; and the -2,000 volt repulsive difference of potential between the focusing electrode and the photocathode 36, generated by the gate power supply when the image intensifier 24 is gated OFF, prevents photoelectrons from being accelerated toward the screen of the image intensifier. Contrariwise, the image intensifier is gated ON when the gate power supply 32 switches from -2,000 volts to ground, removing the repulsive difference of potential.

As will be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the alternating current input to image intensifier 24 is provided by means of an oscillator 38 in cooperation with a direct current power supply 40. Direct current energy is also provided by power supplies 42 and 44 in the manner shown; and the laser synchronizer 26 is advantageously provided with an input from a pulse generator 46. Finally, a direct current voltage is applied to photocathode 36 from a power source 48.

In one specific embodiment of the invention employing temporal discrimination to eliminate "noise," the minimum resolvable temperature difference was found to be on the order of 0.4.degree.C. while contrast in the output image of approximately 40% was measured for a temperature difference of approximately 5.degree.C. above ambient temperature.

The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. For example, cooling means may be arranged with the quantum counter 14 and suitable packaging for that unit may be provided to isolate it from its environment. Furthermore, the means for temporal discrimination may be used in systems other than infrared detection. Other changes in form and in the characteristics of components, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated in the following claims.