Mikrobolometriin

Mikrobolometriin is a type of thermal detector that measures infrared radiation by sensing a change in electrical resistance. It consists of a micro-machined structure, typically made of silicon or other semiconductor materials, that absorbs incoming infrared photons. This absorption causes a slight temperature increase in the absorbing element. This temperature change is then converted into an electrical signal by a material whose electrical resistance is highly sensitive to temperature, such as vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon.

These detectors are often arranged in an array to form a focal plane array, allowing for the imaging of infrared radiation. Mikrobolometriin arrays are uncooled, meaning they do not require cryogenic cooling, which significantly reduces their size, cost, and power consumption compared to cooled infrared detectors. This makes them suitable for a wide range of applications including thermal imaging cameras for security, surveillance, industrial inspection, and night vision devices. They are also used in scientific research, medical diagnostics, and astronomical observations. The performance of a mikrobolometriin is characterized by its thermal resolution, response time, and detectivity.