7. Conclusion

Today, there are many different types of infrared detectors, with different operating principles, application conditions and electro-optical performance. As a result, the task of the infrared instrument designer, who has to choose the most suitable die for his specific need, is a particularly arduous one. In this article, we have provided the elements needed to make such a choice. In particular, we have described the operating principle of the various dies (quantum or thermal), their manufacture and their specific features. We have also provided the elements needed to model the "detector" brick, whether quantum or thermal, to enable calculation of the signal-to-noise ratio at instrument output. We conclude with a brief review of the state of the art.

Finally, it should be pointed out that this state of the art is likely to evolve rapidly, thanks to the many research...