A Cooled Focal Plane Array (FPA) is a type of infrared sensor used in thermal cameras that requires cooling to work effectively. The “focal plane array” refers to the grid of tiny detectors arranged in a pattern that captures infrared radiation. In a cooled FPA, the detectors are kept at very low temperatures using a cooling system (often a cryocooler) to reduce thermal noise and improve image quality. This cooling allows the detectors to be more sensitive and capture clearer, higher-quality thermal images, especially in the MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) and LWIR (Long-Wave Infrared) ranges. Cooled FPAs are typically used in high-performance applications like military surveillance, search and rescue, or scientific research, where precise thermal imaging is crucial.