An apparatus has a transducer with a storage phosphor that is chargeable to emit light of a first wavelength in response to an excitation light of a second wavelength from an object scene, wherein the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength. A digital light sensor is disposed to accumulate energy from the emitted light of the transducer and to generate a signal according to the accumulated energy. A charging illumination source is configured to direct a pulsed charging illumination of a third wavelength, shorter than the first wavelength, to the storage phosphor. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the digital light sensor and the charging illumination source and controls synchronization of the timing of pulsed charging illumination and energy acquisition and readout of the digital light sensor.

An apparatus for insertion through an opening in an outer casing of a gas turbine engine and inspection of internal turbine components at elevated temperatures having an optical sight tube configured to optically communicate with an interior of gas turbine engine via a distal end disposed at the interior and a proximal end disposed exterior of the internal turbine components and defined by a first longitudinal wall, at least one lens at the distal end of the optical sight tube adjacent to the longitudinal wall; and at least one longitudinal cooling groove in the longitudinal wall for flowing a cooling medium from a location external to the turbine to cool the optical sight tube at a location at least adjacent the distal end.

A method of measuring a Jugular Pulse property, comprising: mounting a device including an imager to the neck of a patient; imaging the Jugular vein at an imaged location using the imager; and analyzing at least one image provided by said imager to estimate at least one property of the Jugular Pulse. Optionally, said imager is a thermal imager. Optionally, the method comprises cooling tissue at said imaged location adjacent said vein using said device. In some embodiments, the device is designed to mount at a same neck axial position when disconnected and reattached and the system provided is designed to enforce the same body position to allow for comparable repeat measurements.

A photodetector comprising a photoabsorber, comprising a doped semiconductor, a contact layer comprising a doped semiconductor and a barrier layer comprising a charge carrier compensated semiconductor, the barrier layer compensated by doping impurities such that it exhibits a valence band energy level substantially equal to the valence band energy level of the photo absorbing layer and a conduction band energy level exhibiting a significant band gap in relation to the conduction band of the photo absorbing layer, the barrier layer disposed between the photoabsorber and contact layers. The relationship between the photo absorbing layer and contact layer valence and conduction band energies and the barrier layer conduction and valance band energies is selected to facilitate minority carrier current flow while inhibiting majority carrier current flow between the contact and photo absorbing layers.

A IDCA system combining thermo-electric cooler (TEC) and an internal nBn photo-detector having a photo absorbing layer comprising an n-doped semiconductor exhibiting a valence band energy level; and a contact layer comprising a doped semiconductor. A barrier layer is disposed between the photo absorbing layer and the contact layer, the barrier layer exhibiting a valence band energy level substantially equal to the valence band energy level of the doped semiconductor of the photo absorbing layer; the barrier layer exhibiting a thickness and a conductance band gap sufficient to prevent tunneling of majority carriers from the photo absorbing layer to the contact area and block the flow of thermalized majority carriers from the photo absorbing layer to the contact area. Alternatively, a p-doped semiconductor is utilized, and conductance band energy levels of the barrier and photo absorbing layers are equalized.

An infrared imaging device includes a case, a plurality of electronic components, and a heat transfer structure. The plurality of electronic components is configured to collect data and have a predetermined temperature parameter. The plurality of electronic components is disposed within the case. The heat transfer structure is disposed within the case. The heat transfer structure is configured to conduct heat away from the plurality of electronic components. The heat transfer structure is further configured to regulate a temperature of the electronic components below the predetermined temperature parameter.

An infrared imaging device includes a case, a plurality of electronic components, and a heat transfer structure. The plurality of electronic components is configured to collect data and have a predetermined temperature parameter. The plurality of electronic components is disposed within the case. The heat transfer structure is disposed within the case. The heat transfer structure is configured to conduct heat away from the plurality of electronic components. The heat transfer structure is further configured to regulate a temperature of the electronic components below the predetermined temperature parameter.

A cavity blackbody radiation source is provide. A cavity blackbody radiation source comprises a blackbody radiation cavity and a carbon nanotube layer. The blackbody radiation cavity comprises an inner surface. The carbon nanotube layer is located on the inner surface. The carbon nanotube carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a plurality of microporous. A method of making the cavity blackbody radiation source is also provide.

A thermal pixel configured as an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector. The thermal pixel comprises a micro-platform suspended with semiconductor nanowires from a surrounding support platform. The nanowires comprise phononic structure providing a decrease in thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the pixel is structured for operation within a broad bandwidth or a limited bandwidth. Metamaterial and/or photonic crystal filters provide pixel operation over a limited bandwidth. In some other embodiments, the micro-platform comprises a nanotube structure providing a broadband emission/absorption spectral response.

An infrared imaging device includes a plurality of electronic components, a phase change material, and a heat transfer structure. The plurality of electronic components is configured to collect data and have a predetermined temperature parameter. The plurality of electronic components is disposed within the phase change material. The phase change material has a first material phase and a second material phase. The phase change material has a first material phase and a second material phase. The phase change material is configured to absorb heat through changing from the first material phase to the second material phase. The heat transfer structure is disposed within the phase change material. The heat transfer structure is configured to conduct heat within the phase change material. The phase change material and the heat transfer structure are further configured to regulate a temperature of the electronic components below the predetermined temperature parameter.