BLACK SUBMILLIMETER RADIATION DETECTOR

• US 3,660,659 A
• Filed: 02/03/1971
• Issued: 05/02/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald L. Stierwalt, Douglas C. Arrington, James D. Merriam, Richard L. Bates, Wesley L. Eisenman
• Original Assignee: Donald L. Stierwalt, Douglas C. Arrington, James D. Merriam, Richard L. Bates, Wesley L. Eisenman
• Inventors: Eisenman, Wesley L., Arrington, Douglas C., Bates, Richard L., Merriam, James D., Stierwalt, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Archie R.
• Application Number:
  US05/112,157
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 250/83R,83.3H
• US Class Current: 250/352
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/068 by controlling parameters other than temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0853 having infrared absorbers other than the usual absorber layers deposited on infrared detectors like bolometers, wherein the heat propagation between the absorber and the detecting element occurs within a solid
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0887 Integrating cavities mimicking black bodies, wherein the heat propagation between the black body and the measuring element does not occur within a solid; Use of bodies placed inside the fluid stream for measurement of the temperature of gases; Use of the reemission from a surface, e.g. reflective surface; Emissivity enhancement by multiple reflections
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/20 using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices

Abstract

A radiation detector, as a standard reference for determining the spectral response of any detectors in the submillimeter wavelength region, comprising a conical radiation receiver whose inner surface is coated with black pigment and having a bolometer flake of gallium doped germanium soldered to its outer surface substantially midway, between its base and apex, and a cooled light pipe for introducing radiant energy into the interior of the receiver.

Claims

1. A black submillimeter radiation detector comprising:

a. a hollow thin-wall cone of highly electrical and heat conductive material having the base thereof open to expose the conical cavity to incident radiation, b. the internal surface of said cone being blackened with a coating of material having high absorption characteristics in the wavelength region of 50 to 1,000 microns, this absorption of the coating together with the conical geometry of said cavity resulting in absorption of nearly all incident radiation independent of the wavelength of the incident radiation, c. means for mounting and cooling said cone to liquid helium temperature, d. a bolometer means electrically mounted on the outside of said cone substantially midway between the base and apex of the cone providing sensitive detection of temperature change.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said bolometer is a gallium doped germanium and is soldered to said cone with indium.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said cone is shielded except for said base end which is open to incident radiation.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting and cooling said cone comprising a conductive lead having one end attached to said cone and the other end attached to the cold finger of a liquid helium reservoir, said lead also providing an electrical grounding conductor for said cone and bolometer.