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About

Mani Sundaram is a leading innovator in infrared detector technology, whose work has bridged the gap between advanced semiconductor physics and practical space-based Earth observation. His primary research focuses on strained-layer superlattice (SLS) detectors and quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs), materials that enable high-performance, multi-spectral thermal imaging. Sundaram’s most significant contribution is the development and deployment of the Compact Thermal Imager (CTI), a dual-band SLS-based instrument installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2018. This instrument, detailed in his most-cited paper (13 citations), served as a critical pathfinder for future space-based thermal imaging systems, demonstrating the viability of compact, high-sensitivity SLS detectors in the harsh environment of low Earth orbit. His work has directly supported NASA’s Landsat program and DARPA-funded initiatives, with his 2020 paper (5 citations) tracing the historical evolution of this technology from single-element QWIPs to advanced 2D array formats. Sundaram’s ongoing research, as outlined in his 2023 work (2 citations), focuses on building next-generation multi-band SLS imaging systems, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in dual- and multi-spectral infrared cameras for both space and terrestrial applications.