Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering – Politecnico di Milano
New Conference Hall (Building 20A)
Lecturer: James W. Beletic, Ph.D.
Abstract
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM, the new Conference Hall of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering at Politecnico di Milano will host the first session of the Short Course on High Performance Visible and Infrared Focal Plane Arrays, led by James W. Beletic, Ph.D.
Developed and refined by Dr. Beletic over more than 35 years, the course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the physical principles and technological solutions behind high-performance detectors for visible and infrared light. Through a combination of theoretical foundations and practical examples, participants will explore the characteristics, operation and applications of advanced light-sensing technologies.
While the programme draws extensively on detector systems developed for astronomical instrumentation – where the ability to measure extremely faint signals is essential – the topics addressed have a much broader relevance. The knowledge presented can also support applications in Earth Science, laboratory research and national defence, offering valuable insight into the development and use of highly sensitive optical and infrared sensors.
Registration is mandatory to attend the course.Short Bio
During 2023-2026, Dr. Beletic was the Chief Scientific Officer of Teledyne Digital Imaging, Space. In this role, he was responsible for engaging current and prospective space customers to grow Teledyne’s space business across the full suite of Teledyne’s imaging technologies. The Teledyne imaging business units involved in space missions are Teledyne Imaging Sensors, e2v Space Imaging, DALSA, and Judson Technologies.
During 2013-2023, James was the President of Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS), which is a world leader in the development and production of high-performance infrared focal plane arrays. TIS sensors are operating in instrumentation at every major ground-based telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Pluto New Horizons, OSIRIS-REx, the Euclid dark universe mission, SPHEREx, and weather satellites such as the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). The next generation of infrared space astronomy missions (Roman Space Telescope, NEO Surveyor, Ariel, ARRAKIHS) are made possible by Teledyne’s imaging sensors. TIS plays a vital role in National Defense and supplies infrared arrays, cameras, and electronics to the commercial laboratory instrumentation market.
Dr. Beletic has over 40 years of experience in instrumentation, with specialization in visible and infrared image sensor technologies. His career is a unique combination of international work experience that includes scientific positions at major research centres (Harvard University, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute), leadership positions at the world’s foremost astronomical observatories (European Southern Observatory, Keck Observatory), and senior level management of an industry leader in infrared sensors (Teledyne).
Dr. Beletic is an active leader in the international astronomical community, chairing review panels for scientific projects, teaching seminars, giving invited talks, and hosting the Scientific Detector Workshop, a meeting held every three years that brings together the scientists and engineers who develop, produce, implement and operate the most advanced imaging sensors used in scientific instrumentation. Asteroid 14669 is named after him in recognition of his contributions to astronomy.