The ability to observe our earth from an external perspective can provide insights into our environment, agriculture and forestry practices, physical ground-based assets, and disaster response. This has been enabled by deploying satellites with capabilities for earth observation (EO).
EO systems rely on the ability to differentiate the optical signals of interest from noise, often employing wavelength selective optical filters for this purpose. Iridian has designed and manufactured optical filters and multi-spectral/multi-zone filter arrays (MZF) customized to the unique needs of these systems and the environment of space.
Common specs include:
- narrow passbands with high transmittance (Tx)
- deep and broad out-of-band and band-to-band blocking
- steep edges/sharp transition from Tx to blocking
Single Band Filters enable imagers or detectors to selectively analyze a specific wavelength band of interest.
- high uniformity, large filters up to and in excess of 200mm diameter
- excellent transmitted wavefront error and surface quality
Multi-zone Filter Arrays turn single detectors into multi-spectral imaging devices imaging different science bands of interest.
- small zone-to-zone transitions
- robust arrays to survive launch and orbit
- customized spectral bands and dimensions
