Infrared-to-Millimeter, Broadband, Solid State Bolometer Detectors

Two versions of a thermal detector have been developed combining broadband response over the entire near infrared-to-millimeter region, room temperature operation, solid state construction, and amenability to absolute calibration. The sensitive detector version has a noise equivalent power (NEP) near 7 x 10(-10) W/Hz((1/2)) with a time constant of 6 msec. The power measuring bolometer version has a sensitivity near 10(-8) W for a 3-sec time constant. The basic construction uses a flake thermistor as a temperature sensor in combination with an optimized radiation absorber.