Field Guide to Infrared Systems

This field guide is written to clarify and summarize the theoretical principles of infrared technology. It describes the basic elements involving image formation and image quality, radiometry and flux transfer, and explains the figures of merit involving detector performance. It considers the development of search infrared systems, and specifies the main descriptors used to characterize thermal imaging systems. Furthermore, this guide clarifies, identifies, and evaluates the engineering trade-offs in the design of an infrared system.