A quantitative analysis of a self-emitting thermal IR scene simulation system

A quantitative evaluation is performed in which the imaging characteristics of a selfemitting thermal infrared scene simulation system are analyzed. The simulation system is comprised of an energy source (an Argon laser), optics, a spatial light modulator for image generation in the visible wavelength energy, and an transducer for conversion of the visible wavelength energy image to a thermal IR image. After construction of the simulation system, the performance of the simulation system and its components is analyzed by measurement of : (1) the Modulation Transfer Function, (2) the temporal response, (3) the maximum thermal contrast, and (4) the Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature. Additionally, an evaluation was made of the performance of the infrared imaging system used to view the simulation system output imagesby measurement of its Modulation Transfer Function and Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature. The optimum area of concentration for overall system improvement has been identified for future developmental work