Alizé 1.7 Deep-Cooled SWIR Camera
The Alizé 1.7 is a high-performance 640 × 512 InGaAs camera designed for demanding scientific SWIR imaging. Four-stage thermoelectric cooling reaches -60 °C while forced-air heat removal eliminates the maintenance requirements of water- or liquid-nitrogen-cooled systems.
Deep Cooling for Low-Noise SWIR Imaging
The Alizé 1.7 combines a scientific-grade InGaAs detector with deep thermoelectric cooling and low-noise control electronics. The sensor can be maintained at -60 °C at a 20 °C ambient temperature, reducing dark current for demanding low-signal measurements and longer integration times.
Unlike water- or liquid-nitrogen-cooled systems, the Alizé uses a TEC plus forced-air architecture. This provides a compact, reliable cooling solution with no liquid-cooling maintenance.
- Four-stage thermoelectric cooling to -60 °C
- Low dark current and low readout noise
- High quantum efficiency and high detector operability
- External Trigger IN / OUT for synchronized acquisition
- PHySpec™ control and analysis software
- SDK support for C++ and Python
Why Choose a Deep-Cooled SWIR Camera?
Deep cooling is especially valuable when the measurement requires low dark current, high sensitivity, long integration times, or stable scientific imaging. Pembroke Instruments can help determine whether the Alizé platform, a more compact TE-cooled camera, or an extended-SWIR camera is the best fit for the application.
Alizé 1.7x and Alizé 1.7s Models
The Alizé 1.7 is offered in two detector configurations. Both use a 640 × 512 InGaAs array with 15 µm pixels, -60 °C TEC cooling, USB 3.0 and Camera Link interfaces, and external trigger I/O.
Alizé 1.7x
500-1700 nm spectral range with peak quantum efficiency above 85%. The 1.7x extends response into the visible/NIR while maintaining sensitivity through the standard SWIR band.
- 640 × 512, 15 µm InGaAs FPA
- 500-1700 nm spectral response
- Typical dark current: 150 e-/px/s*
- 110 or 220 fps depending on readout configuration
- ROI rates up to 500 or 900 fps
- 13-bit digitization
Alizé 1.7s
900-1700 nm spectral range with peak quantum efficiency above 80%. The 1.7s is optimized for standard InGaAs SWIR imaging and offers the highest full-frame and ROI rates in the Alizé 1.7 family.
- 640 × 512, 15 µm InGaAs FPA
- 900-1700 nm spectral response
- Typical dark current: 240 e-/px/s*
- Up to 250 fps full frame
- ROI frame rate up to 4300 fps
- 14-bit digitization
*Typical dark-current values in the manufacturer specification are stated using a cold target.
Quantum Efficiency
The Alizé 1.7x provides useful response from approximately 500 nm through 1700 nm, while the Alizé 1.7s is centered on the conventional InGaAs SWIR range from 900 to 1700 nm. The manufacturer's quantum-efficiency curves are shown here at 25 °C.
The datasheet notes that the cutoff wavelength shifts toward shorter wavelengths by approximately 7 nm for every 10 °C of cooling.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Alizé 1.7x | Alizé 1.7s |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | InGaAs FPA | InGaAs FPA |
| Sensor format | 640 × 512 | 640 × 512 |
| Pixel size | 15 µm | 15 µm |
| Spectral range | 500-1700 nm | 900-1700 nm |
| Peak quantum efficiency | > 85% | > 80% |
| Typical operability | > 99.9% | > 99.5% |
| Cooling temperature at 20 °C ambient | -60 °C | -60 °C |
| Cooling method | TEC + forced air | TEC + forced air |
| Typical dark current* | 150 e-/px/s | 240 e-/px/s |
| Typical readout noise | 22 e- (high gain); 135 e- (low gain) | 35 e- (low); 75 e- (medium); 315 e- (low) |
| Typical full well capacity | 8.5 ke- (high gain); 250 ke- (low gain) | 27 ke-; 110 ke-; 1400 ke- |
| Readout modes | CDS ITR / STD ITR | CDS ITR, CDS IWR, IMRO IWR |
| Frame rate | 110 / 220 fps | 250 fps |
| ROI frame rate | Up to 500 / 900 fps | Up to 4300 fps |
| Integration time | From 1 µs to full well capacity | From 1 µs to full well capacity |
| Digitization | 13 bits | 14 bits |
| Image format | 16-bit HDF5, FITS, TIFF | 16-bit HDF5, FITS, TIFF |
| Software / SDK | PHySpec™; C++ and Python SDK | PHySpec™; C++ and Python SDK |
| Computer interface | USB 3.0 and Camera Link™ | USB 3.0 and Camera Link™ |
| External control | Trigger IN / OUT | Trigger IN / OUT |
| Ambient temperature range | 10 °C to 35 °C | 10 °C to 35 °C |
| Power supply | 12 V DC | 12 V DC |
| Dimensions | 169 × 130 × 97 mm | 169 × 130 × 97 mm |
| Weight | 2.9 kg | 2.9 kg |
*Using cold target. Specifications are based on the current Photon etc. Alizé 1.7 specification sheet.
Typical Applications
Low-Light Scientific Imaging
Deep cooling and low dark current make the Alizé 1.7 a strong choice for measurements where signal levels are low or integration times are longer than typical machine-vision exposures.
Spectroscopy & Optical Research
High quantum efficiency, scientific file formats, external triggering, and C++/Python SDK support provide a capable platform for laboratory optical measurement systems.
SWIR Laboratory Imaging
The 640 × 512 InGaAs format is suitable for research imaging, material contrast studies, laser visualization, and other applications requiring standard or extended-visible-to-SWIR response.
Software and System Integration
Alizé 1.7 cameras include PHySpec™ control and analysis software and SDK support for C++ and Python. USB 3.0 provides direct PC connectivity, while Camera Link supports higher-bandwidth integration with compatible acquisition hardware.
- PHySpec™ camera control and analysis
- C++ and Python SDK
- 16-bit HDF5, FITS and TIFF image formats
- External Trigger IN / OUT
- USB 3.0 and Camera Link connectivity
Pembroke Application Support
Pembroke Instruments can help with camera selection, lens and field-of-view calculations, SWIR illumination, triggering, software integration, and selection between standard 900-1700 nm and broader spectral-response configurations.
Need Help Selecting the Right Deep-Cooled SWIR Camera?
Tell Pembroke Instruments your wavelength range, required exposure time, frame rate, field of view, working distance, interface, and software environment. We can help determine whether the Alizé 1.7x, Alizé 1.7s, or another SWIR camera is the best fit.