Broadband power detector assembly measures electromagnetic radiation in the 50 to 30,000 GHz band. The assembly includes a matched pair of detectors which incorporate thin-film radiation absorbers. The detector is effective with either coherent or incoherent radiation

Arams, F. R.

Wang, M. T.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1966	 Brief 66-10581 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Detector Measures Power in 50 to 30,000 GHz Radiation Band 
The problem: 
To develop a broadband power measuring detector 
for electromagnetic radiation in the 50 to 30,000 GHz 
(6 mm to 10 micron) band. 
The solution: 
An assembly employing a matched pair of detectors 
which incorporate thin-film radiation absorbers. 
How it's done: 
Each of the two detectors in the assembly consists 
of a thin-film radiation absorber mounted on a dielec-
tric substrate in close thermal contact with a thermis-
tor bolometer element. The detectors are matched 
electrically and thermally to compensate for ambient 
temperature variations when operated in a balanced 
Wheatstone bridge circuit. In tests on an experi-
mental model, the detector assembly exhibited the 
following characteristics at 70 GHz: 
Responsivity	 240 volts/watt 
Minimum detectable 
signal	 10-8 watt (approx. I sec) 
Dynamic range	 50db (10-8 to 10- 3 watt) 
Output voltage	 (Linear with respect to 
input power)
Notes: 
1. The detector is effective with either coherent or 
incoherent radiation. 
2. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Electronics Research Center 
575 Technology Square 
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 
Reference: B66-10581 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: M. T. Wang and F. R. Arams 
of Airborne Instruments Laboratory, 
Cutler-Hammer, Inc. 
under contract to
Electronics Research Center 
(ERC-26) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Detector measures power in 50 to 30,000 GHz radiation band

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