Development of low-flux SWIR radio-imaging systems to study nightglow emission

In this paper, we report the development of low flux short wavelength infrared radio-imaging systems to study the radiance due to nightglow emission. This radiation is mainly due to the desexcitation of hydroxyl molecules in the upper atmosphere. It is present in the visible range and reaches its maximum value (at ground level) in the short wavelength infrared band between 1.4 and 1.8μm. The nightglow may be an interesting additional light source for night vision systems in moonless or cloudy sky conditions. In this paper, we describe the experimental setup and present first results of the measurement campaigns that we performed at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence in France and at the European Southern Observatory site of La Silla in Chile.