IMAGE INTENSIFIER INSTRUMENTS FOR ACQUISITION OF WEAK TARGETS.
Abstract
The ability to acquire and track low intensity optical targets is an important factor in the optical monitoring of the re-entry ballistic missile complexes into the atmosphere. The unaided eye is a remarkably sensitive and efficient search instrument but, when an attempt is made to increase its sensitivity through the use of telescopic instruments, fundamental principles limit the product of the sensitivity gain and the solid angle of view. Image intensifiers, through amplification, remove this restriction and allow instruments whose optical gain is independent of the ratio of the real and apparent fields of view. As these devices also are sensitive to a substantially greater spectral range than the eye and are capable of as much amplification as may be practically useful, a study has been made to determine the factors which will set a limit to the ultimate useful sensitivity of optical instruments using such components. It is true, of course, that the ultimate sensitivity of any such instrument will be limited by the statistical nature of light, but with realizable apertures it can be shown that, long before this condition is reached, the stellar background and airglow will effectively set a limit to the attainable sensitivity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0467948
Entities
People
- Rochelle Prescott