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QWIP - Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetector

Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIP) are the basis of this sensitive infrared camera, that observes the blazing plumes from the Space Shuttle or expendable rocket liftoffs, and is also capable of scanning for fires, providing night vision, early warning systems, navigation, flight control enhancement, monitoring the environment and providing medical imaging.

In October 1996, QWIP detectors pointed out hot spots of the destructive fires speeding through Malibu, California. QWIPs were developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Center for Space Microelectronics Technology in partnership with Amber, a Raytheon company.

Read More About It:

Success Story:

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff1997/ps2.html

Ongoing Technology Development:

http://csmt.jpl.nasa.gov/csmtpages/Technologies/QWIPS/qwips.html

QWIP for Medical Applications:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2000/cancerdetection.html

ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/2000/00-049.txt