Dazzling sensitivity analysis of a microbolometer array on an infrared laser irradiation breadboard

Abstract

International audienceLaser sources have evolved towards lower cost and higher power, and the risk of imaging system disturbance due to laser dazzling effects can no more be ignored. In this paper we first present an experimental bench which has been developed specifically to perform dazzling experiments on infrared focal plane arrays. With this breadboard, dazzling experiments have been conducted on various types of focal plane arrays. We will focus on results obtained on a standard microbolometer array. The main parameters affecting dazzling phenomena were varied and conclusions on the dazzling phenomena are proposed. Since the major impact of laser pulses on microbolometer focal plane is due to heating, a first and simple phenomenological model of laser dazzling of these uncooled detectors is presented. Moreover thanks to the high level of performance of this breadboard, a new method is described for the direct measurement of the thermal time constant of the microbolometer array