THE THRESHOLD SENSITIVITY LIMITS OF THERMAL INFRARED DETECTORS

Abstract

The limitations of thermal or heat detectors are examined. The mechanism of detector response and its relationship to the detector's heat coupling with the environment is given special emphasis, as is also the inherent or thermodynamic fluctuations of the detector. The practical realizability of optimum detector operation is analyzed and two configurations are shown which make it feasible. Finally, a possible detector scheme is proposed which may achieve the inherent detector performance limits. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0267323

Entities

People

  • Leo Davis

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Couplings
  • Detectors
  • Electromagnetic Wave Detectors
  • Environment
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Optical Detectors
  • Sensitivity
  • Warning Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.