Abstract
Thermistor bolometers are fast, sensitive infrared detectors with good responsivity from 1 to 15 microns. The detectors consist of a thin flake of thermistor material mounted on a thermal sink. The time constant of the detectors is determined by the type of thermal sink on which the flakes are mounted. By cementing thermistor flakes to quartz or glass thermal sinks, detectors with time constants ranging from 3 to 5 and 5 to 8 milliseconds, respectively, are obtained.
Experimental results are given for quartz- and glass-backed thermistor detectors having sizes of sensitive areas ranging from 0.2 to 12.5 square millimeters. Performance criteria for these detectors are tabulated and plotted as a function of size of sensitive area. Typical frequency response and relative spectral responsivity data are given.
Detector flakes have to be mounted in sealed housings for noise-free operation. Two types of housings are described.
© 1953 Optical Society of America
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