Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling

W. Pan; G. A. Umana-Membreno; N. Dehdashtiakhavan; T. Haggren; H. Tan; D. Neshev; L. Wesemann; P. Leslie; R. Driggers; L. Faraone

doi:10.1117/12.3069715

Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling

W. Pan^*
, G. A. Umana-Membreno
, N. Dehdashtiakhavan
, T. Haggren
, H. Tan
, D. Neshev
, L. Wesemann
, P. Leslie
, R. Driggers
, L. Faraone^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

The Australian National University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › peer-review

Abstract

We present the design and modelling of metalens arrays integrated with mid-wave infrared (MWIR, 3–5 µm) HgCdTe (MCT) focal plane arrays (FPAs). Silicon and germanium micro-metalens structures were modelled using rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). By concentrating incident light into reduced junction areas, microlenses suppress dark current and enable high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Two application cases are considered: (i) high-resolution imaging, quantified by the noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD) as a function of temperature, and (ii) subpixel bushfire detection, assessed via radiometric contrast as a function of source distance. Simulations indicate that microlens-enhanced FPAs maintain NETD ≤ 35 mK at temperatures compatible with thermoelectric coolers (TECs), eliminating the need for bulky cryogenic cooling systems. For bushfire detection, a 5 × 5 m² hotspot at 1000 K remains detectable beyond 9 km with microlenses, compared to only ~1.5 km without microlenses at elevated temperatures. These results suggest the potential of microlens-integrated FPAs to deliver compact, low-SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power consumption, and Cost) MWIR systems for high-performance imaging and scalable civilian monitoring applications.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems
Subtitle of host publication	Technology and Applications XXII
Editors	Duncan L. Hickman, Helge Bursing, Ove Steinvall, Philip J. Soan
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510692879
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3069715
Publication status	Published - 28 Oct 2025
Event	22nd Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications - Madrid, Spain Duration: 15 Sept 2025 → 18 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13674
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	22nd Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Madrid
Period	15/09/25 → 18/09/25

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3069715

Cite this

Pan, W., Umana-Membreno, G. A., Dehdashtiakhavan, N., Haggren, T., Tan, H., Neshev, D., Wesemann, L., Leslie, P., Driggers, R., & Faraone, L. (2025). Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling. In D. L. Hickman, H. Bursing, O. Steinvall, & P. J. Soan (Eds.), Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XXII Article 136740W (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13674). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3069715

Pan, W. ; Umana-Membreno, G. A. ; Dehdashtiakhavan, N. et al. / Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors : Design and Modelling. Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XXII. editor / Duncan L. Hickman ; Helge Bursing ; Ove Steinvall ; Philip J. Soan. SPIE, 2025. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering).

@inproceedings{5aa191d90a914be78dab8a95703014f9,

title = "Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling",

abstract = "We present the design and modelling of metalens arrays integrated with mid-wave infrared (MWIR, 3–5 µm) HgCdTe (MCT) focal plane arrays (FPAs). Silicon and germanium micro-metalens structures were modelled using rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). By concentrating incident light into reduced junction areas, microlenses suppress dark current and enable high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Two application cases are considered: (i) high-resolution imaging, quantified by the noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD) as a function of temperature, and (ii) subpixel bushfire detection, assessed via radiometric contrast as a function of source distance. Simulations indicate that microlens-enhanced FPAs maintain NETD ≤ 35 mK at temperatures compatible with thermoelectric coolers (TECs), eliminating the need for bulky cryogenic cooling systems. For bushfire detection, a 5 × 5 m2 hotspot at 1000 K remains detectable beyond 9 km with microlenses, compared to only \textasciitilde{}1.5 km without microlenses at elevated temperatures. These results suggest the potential of microlens-integrated FPAs to deliver compact, low-SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power consumption, and Cost) MWIR systems for high-performance imaging and scalable civilian monitoring applications.",

keywords = "HgCdTe, HOT detectors, Metalens, Microlens array, MWIR detectors, NETD, Subpixel bushfire monitoring, Thermoelectric cooling",

author = "W. Pan and Umana-Membreno, \{G. A.\} and N. Dehdashtiakhavan and T. Haggren and H. Tan and D. Neshev and L. Wesemann and P. Leslie and R. Driggers and L. Faraone",

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month = oct,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1117/12.3069715",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Hickman, \{Duncan L.\} and Helge Bursing and Ove Steinvall and Soan, \{Philip J.\}",

booktitle = "Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems",

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Pan, W, Umana-Membreno, GA, Dehdashtiakhavan, N, Haggren, T, Tan, H, Neshev, D, Wesemann, L, Leslie, P, Driggers, R & Faraone, L 2025, Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling. in DL Hickman, H Bursing, O Steinvall & PJ Soan (eds), Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XXII., 136740W, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13674, SPIE, 22nd Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications, Madrid, Spain, 15/09/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3069715

Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling. / Pan, W.; Umana-Membreno, G. A.; Dehdashtiakhavan, N. et al.
Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XXII. ed. / Duncan L. Hickman; Helge Bursing; Ove Steinvall; Philip J. Soan. SPIE, 2025. 136740W (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13674).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors

T2 - 22nd Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications

AU - Pan, W.

AU - Umana-Membreno, G. A.

AU - Dehdashtiakhavan, N.

AU - Haggren, T.

AU - Tan, H.

AU - Neshev, D.

AU - Wesemann, L.

AU - Leslie, P.

AU - Driggers, R.

AU - Faraone, L.

PY - 2025/10/28

Y1 - 2025/10/28

N2 - We present the design and modelling of metalens arrays integrated with mid-wave infrared (MWIR, 3–5 µm) HgCdTe (MCT) focal plane arrays (FPAs). Silicon and germanium micro-metalens structures were modelled using rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). By concentrating incident light into reduced junction areas, microlenses suppress dark current and enable high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Two application cases are considered: (i) high-resolution imaging, quantified by the noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD) as a function of temperature, and (ii) subpixel bushfire detection, assessed via radiometric contrast as a function of source distance. Simulations indicate that microlens-enhanced FPAs maintain NETD ≤ 35 mK at temperatures compatible with thermoelectric coolers (TECs), eliminating the need for bulky cryogenic cooling systems. For bushfire detection, a 5 × 5 m2 hotspot at 1000 K remains detectable beyond 9 km with microlenses, compared to only ~1.5 km without microlenses at elevated temperatures. These results suggest the potential of microlens-integrated FPAs to deliver compact, low-SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power consumption, and Cost) MWIR systems for high-performance imaging and scalable civilian monitoring applications.

AB - We present the design and modelling of metalens arrays integrated with mid-wave infrared (MWIR, 3–5 µm) HgCdTe (MCT) focal plane arrays (FPAs). Silicon and germanium micro-metalens structures were modelled using rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). By concentrating incident light into reduced junction areas, microlenses suppress dark current and enable high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Two application cases are considered: (i) high-resolution imaging, quantified by the noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD) as a function of temperature, and (ii) subpixel bushfire detection, assessed via radiometric contrast as a function of source distance. Simulations indicate that microlens-enhanced FPAs maintain NETD ≤ 35 mK at temperatures compatible with thermoelectric coolers (TECs), eliminating the need for bulky cryogenic cooling systems. For bushfire detection, a 5 × 5 m2 hotspot at 1000 K remains detectable beyond 9 km with microlenses, compared to only ~1.5 km without microlenses at elevated temperatures. These results suggest the potential of microlens-integrated FPAs to deliver compact, low-SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power consumption, and Cost) MWIR systems for high-performance imaging and scalable civilian monitoring applications.

KW - HgCdTe

KW - HOT detectors

KW - Metalens

KW - Microlens array

KW - MWIR detectors

KW - NETD

KW - Subpixel bushfire monitoring

KW - Thermoelectric cooling

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025356279

U2 - 10.1117/12.3069715

DO - 10.1117/12.3069715

M3 - Conference Paper

AN - SCOPUS:105025356279

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems

A2 - Hickman, Duncan L.

A2 - Bursing, Helge

A2 - Steinvall, Ove

A2 - Soan, Philip J.

PB - SPIE

Y2 - 15 September 2025 through 18 September 2025

ER -

Pan W, Umana-Membreno GA, Dehdashtiakhavan N, Haggren T, Tan H, Neshev D et al. Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling. In Hickman DL, Bursing H, Steinvall O, Soan PJ, editors, Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XXII. SPIE. 2025. 136740W. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3069715

Metalens Arrays for High-Operating-Temperature HgCdTe MWIR Detectors: Design and Modelling

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