ABSTRACT

Detector focal plane technology has revolutionized many kinds of imaging. From gamma rays to the infrared and even radio waves, the rate at which images can be acquired has increased by more than a factor of a million in many cases. Infrared telescopes, which previously used a single-element detector to scan a scene, now have focal plane array detectors with over 4 million pixels. Even in visible still imaging, detector arrays are gradually replacing film as the capabilities and popularity of digital cameras grow. This entry reviews the background and history of detector array development and trends in this technology. The underlying technologies developed to address the range of the electromagnetic spectrum are then described, including the materials and architectures. Examples of arrays and images are illustrated.