Imaging system and method using a photonic band gap array

A system comprising:

• a source of narrow bandwidth electromagnetic radiation having a specified wavelength;
• an array of photonic band gap material cells positioned to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the source, each cell having a photonic band gap material with an absorption edge at about the emission frequency of the source of electromagnetic radiation;
• an optical assembly arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation from a field of view onto the photonic band gap array and thereby shift the absorption edge of the cells illuminated by the electromagnetic radiation from the field of view;
• and
• a focal plane array positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from the photonic band gap array and to detect electromagnetic radiation with the specified wavelength,
• wherein the photonic band gap material has a lattice structure that expands approximately 0.25% per 10 C temperature rise, resulting in an approximately 4 to 10 decibel change in the transmission of the electromagnetic radiation.