Upconversion-a Systems View.

A review is given of the properties of birefringently phase-matched parametric upconversion using proustite as the nonlinear material. Photon conversion efficiency, field-of-view limitations, spectral acceptance bandwidths, and resolution are discussed in terms of the upconversion of radiation from the 10-mu region to wavelengths shorter than 1 mu. The competitive potential of upconversion detection systems is examined for a wide variety of sensor applications. This analysis shows that upconversion represents a special-purpose detection technology appropriate for low-duty-cycle, small field-of-view imaging systems that use laser illumination. Competitive development of upconversion to detect thermal imagery appears unlikely.