Quantum detectors for infrared imagery

The specific features of infrared imagery are exposed. High quality thermal infrared imaging is presently achieved by optomechanical scanning of a detector array with a few tens of elements. Stationary arrays with integrated electronic readout are good means of obtaining a large number of pixels, such as in a TV image. Detector arrays with integrated readout, made by hybridizing a lead tin telluride detector on a silicon CCD, are presented.