Advances in development of thermoelectric modules for cooling electro-optic components

Two polar groups of electro-optic components (powerful extremely localized elements and low-power large-geometry ones) are considered and results of development of thermoelectric coolers (TECs) adapted for their temperature control are presented. Progress in the creation of intensive short-legged TECs for the first group is discussed. Novel TEC models with identical cascade dimensions for cooling planar electro-optic elements are also described. In particular, the results of development of. low temperature TEC for cooling multi-element IR detector in Mars-type mission are presented.