Thermal imaging system and method

A thermal detection system comprising:

• a. a temperature sensing element (TSE) that includes an electro-optic (EO) material layer having a length axis and characterized by an index of refraction;
• b. an electrical mechanism for inducing a change in said index of refraction, said index change corresponding to a temperature of said TSE;
• c. an optical reading mechanism that includes a laser beam propagating through said EO layer along said length axis and having a light intensity that changes as a result of said refraction index change;
• and
• d. a power meter for measuring said light intensity change, whereby said detected light intensity change indicates said temperature of said TSE.

A thermal imaging system having an array of pixels arranged in columns and rows, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of temperature sensing elements (TSE) each having an electro-optic (EO) material layer and characterized by an index of refraction;
• b. an electrical mechanism for inducing a change in said index of refraction of each individual TSE, said refraction index change correlated with a temperature of said individual TSE;
• c. a plurality of dummies, wherein said electrical mechanism is applied to a pair composed of a TSE and a dummy;
• and
• d. an optical reading mechanism applied simultaneously to said TSE and said dummy of said pair, to measure their respective refraction index, thereby providing a reading of a temperature difference between said TSE and said dummy.

A method for radiation sensing comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a temperature sensing element (TSE) that includes an electro-optic (EO) material layer and characterized by an index of refraction;
• b. exposing said TSE to radiation, thereby affecting the temperature of said EO material;
• c. electrically inducing a change in said index of refraction, said change correlated with said TSE temperature;
• and
• d. optically reading said refraction index change, thereby providing a reading of said TSE temperature.

A method for thermal imaging comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a plurality of temperature sensing elements (TSE), each said TSE having an electro-optic (EO) material layer and characterized by an index of refraction;
• b. providing at least one dummy, wherein said TSEs and said at least one dummy are located in respective adjacent columns;
• c. electrically inducing a change in said index of refraction of each said TSE, said refraction index change correlated with a temperature of said TSE;
• and
• d. optically reading each said TSE refraction index change, thereby providing a reading of each said TSE temperature.