Microfabricated bolometer based on a vertically aligned carbon nanotube absorber

Published

March 2, 2020

Author(s)

Anna K. Vaskuri, Michelle S. Stephens, Nathan A. Tomlin, Christopher S. Yung, Andrew J. Walowitz, Cameron Straatsma, Dave Harber, John H. Lehman

Abstract

We have designed a microfabricated planar absolute radiometer based on a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) absorber and an electrical power substitution method. The radiometer is designed to operate at room temperature and to be capable of measuring laser powers up to 300 mW from 300 nm to 2300 nm with an expected expanded uncertainty of 0.06% (k = 2). The electrical power substitution capability makes the radiometer absolute and traceable to the international system (SI) of units. The new bolometer is currently under construction and will replace NIST's 50 year old detector standard for free-space CW laser power measurements. We also study the possibility of reducing background temperature sensitivity by optimizing the spectral selectivity of the VACNT forest with a photonic crystal structure.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of SPIE

Volume

11269

Conference Dates

February 1-6, 2020

Conference Location

San Francisco, CA

Conference Title

SPIE Photonics West LASE

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2545254

Local Download

Keywords

Radiometer, bolometer, laser power, primary standard, background compensation, carbon nanotubes, photonic structure, spectral selectivity

Citation

Vaskuri, A. , Stephens, M. , Tomlin, N. , Yung, C. , Walowitz, A. , Straatsma, C. , Harber, D. and Lehman, J. (2020), Microfabricated bolometer based on a vertically aligned carbon nanotube absorber, Proceedings of SPIE, San Francisco, CA, [online], https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2545254 (Accessed October 9, 2025)