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Passive Incoherent Ultrafast Mid-Infrared Upconversion Imaging and Its Calibration

Jin-Peng Li, Zhi-You Li, Zhao-Qi-Zhi Han, Xiao-Hua Wang, He Zhang, Yin-Hai Li, Bo-Wen Liu, Wen-Tao Luo, Zhi-Yuan Zhou, Bao-Sen Shi

TL;DR

This work tackles the need for ultrafast, stand-off MIR imaging by delivering a passive incoherent MIR-to-Vis/NIR upconversion system based on sum-frequency generation in a chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, enabling 100 kHz imaging on a silicon iCCD. It demonstrates the full spatiotemporal evolution of an air-breakdown arc and introduces Allan deviation–based drift-aware calibration to select optimal gate width and averaging in the presence of slow drift and multiplicative noise. A differential ROI approach further suppresses background drift, enhancing robustness for deployment in real-world fast-transient monitoring. Collectively, the study provides a practical pathway toward real-time thermal surveillance and early-warning systems in open environments, with clear guidance for instrument stabilization and drift-aware operation.

Abstract

Ultrafast mid-infrared (MIR) imaging is a key enabling capability for monitoring transient thermal and plasma phenomena in scientific diagnostics and industrial safety. However, conventional cryogenic MIR cameras face a fundamental trade-off between frame rate, noise, and pixel format. Here we report a passive, incoherent MIR imaging platform that leverages sum-frequency upconversion in chirped periodically poled lithium niobate (CPLN) to translate broadband 3--5um scenes to the near-infrared, enabling ultrafast acquisition on a silicon-based intensified CCD (iCCD). In fast-kinetics mode we achieve a physical frame rate of 100kHz with microsecond-scale gate control, and we directly capture the full evolution of an air-breakdown electric arc, resolving its rapid ignition, expansion, and decay dynamics. Beyond demonstrating ultrafast passive imaging, we introduce a drift-aware calibration workflow based on Allan deviation analysis to quantitatively select the gate width and averaging strategy under realistic slow-drift and multiplicative noise. This combined capability -- ultrafast passive MIR imaging plus operationally meaningful calibration -- provides a practical route toward real-time thermal surveillance and early-warning systems for hazardous fast transients.

Passive Incoherent Ultrafast Mid-Infrared Upconversion Imaging and Its Calibration

TL;DR

This work tackles the need for ultrafast, stand-off MIR imaging by delivering a passive incoherent MIR-to-Vis/NIR upconversion system based on sum-frequency generation in a chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, enabling 100 kHz imaging on a silicon iCCD. It demonstrates the full spatiotemporal evolution of an air-breakdown arc and introduces Allan deviation–based drift-aware calibration to select optimal gate width and averaging in the presence of slow drift and multiplicative noise. A differential ROI approach further suppresses background drift, enhancing robustness for deployment in real-world fast-transient monitoring. Collectively, the study provides a practical pathway toward real-time thermal surveillance and early-warning systems in open environments, with clear guidance for instrument stabilization and drift-aware operation.

Abstract

Ultrafast mid-infrared (MIR) imaging is a key enabling capability for monitoring transient thermal and plasma phenomena in scientific diagnostics and industrial safety. However, conventional cryogenic MIR cameras face a fundamental trade-off between frame rate, noise, and pixel format. Here we report a passive, incoherent MIR imaging platform that leverages sum-frequency upconversion in chirped periodically poled lithium niobate (CPLN) to translate broadband 3--5um scenes to the near-infrared, enabling ultrafast acquisition on a silicon-based intensified CCD (iCCD). In fast-kinetics mode we achieve a physical frame rate of 100kHz with microsecond-scale gate control, and we directly capture the full evolution of an air-breakdown electric arc, resolving its rapid ignition, expansion, and decay dynamics. Beyond demonstrating ultrafast passive imaging, we introduce a drift-aware calibration workflow based on Allan deviation analysis to quantitatively select the gate width and averaging strategy under realistic slow-drift and multiplicative noise. This combined capability -- ultrafast passive MIR imaging plus operationally meaningful calibration -- provides a practical route toward real-time thermal surveillance and early-warning systems for hazardous fast transients.
Paper Structure (8 sections, 4 equations, 5 figures)

This paper contains 8 sections, 4 equations, 5 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. System setup and experimental methods
  3. System setup
  4. Experimental methods
  5. Results
  6. Ultrafast MIR imaging
  7. Allan-deviation calibration
  8. Conclusion and outlook

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: System optical layout for passive incoherent MIR upconversion imaging. Mask, resolution target; L1--L2, MIR and VIS/NIR lenses; DM1--DM2, dichroic mirrors; HWP/QWP, half-/quarter-wave plates; R1, high-reflect (HR) mirror; CPLN, periodically poled congruent lithium niobate; BD, beam dump; iCCD, intensified charge-coupled device.
  • Figure 2: Frame-rate verification using a rotating chopper under incoherent illumination. The known modulation is recovered in the recorded high-speed burst, confirming the physical 100 kHz sampling of the system.
  • Figure 3: Ultrafast passive MIR upconversion imaging of an air-breakdown arc at $\mathrm{100\,kHz}$, capturing the onset and rapid evolution of the plasma/thermal emission.
  • Figure 4: Allan deviation analysis for the ROI mean counts under four representative gate widths $\tau_g$. (a) Allan standard deviation. (b) Relative Allan deviation.
  • Figure 5: Allan deviation analysis for the bright--dark differential counts under four representative gate widths $\tau_g$. (a) Allan standrad deviation. (b) Relative Allan deviation.