Super-oscillatory pupil filter enabling mid-wave infrared super-resolution system.

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Infrared Imaging
• Super-resolution Technology

Background:

• Current optical super-oscillatory devices primarily operate in visible and near-infrared bands.
• Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) band offers valuable information for specific target detection.
• Conventional infrared imaging systems face resolution limitations for small target detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply optical super-oscillatory technology to infrared detection for enhanced resolution.
• To enable detection and early warning of small infrared targets in localized fields of view.
• To propose a novel approach for far-field optical super-resolution in MWIR systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an amplitude-type pupil filter for MWIR super-resolution.
• Designing and fabricating a prototype long-focal-length MWIR imaging optical system.
• Conducting simulations and proof-of-concept experiments to validate the approach.

Main Results:

• Achieved a super-resolution factor of 1.195 at the focal plane.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed MWIR super-oscillatory imaging scheme.
• Verified the effectiveness of the amplitude-type pupil filter in enhancing resolution.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MWIR super-oscillatory far-field super-resolution imaging scheme is feasible and effective.
• This technology overcomes inherent resolution limitations in conventional infrared systems.
• Enables enhanced detection capabilities for small infrared targets.