9413375 Thomas This award provides funds for the purchase of a state-of-the-art InSb focal-plane-array (FPA), high frame-rate infrared (IR) imaging system. The FPA will consist of a 512 by 512 matrix of detectors with associated electronic hardware and software, which will be capable of reading out an image at a pixel rate of 18 megapixels/second. The imager will be able to zoom in on selected areas of the image, while maintaining the same pixel rate. It will also operate in the "snapshot" mode, in which all pixels of the array will integrate at the same time, making it possible to produce thermal images on a microsecond time scale, with no time delay for different areas of the image. This equipment will enable research on delamination of ceramic coatings on pistons, impact damage on fiber-reinforced polymer and ceramic composites, corrosion and disbonds in aging aircraft, defects in metal castings and metal powder parts, wall thinning in nuclear reactor pipes, cracks in railroad rails, and many other applications.
