Spectral irradiance responsivity calibration of InSb radiometers using the improved IR-SIRCUS at NIST

Published

October 15, 2009

Author(s)

Jinan Zeng, Howard W. Yoon, George P. Eppeldauer, Leonard M. Hanssen, Joseph P. Rice

Abstract

The spectral irradiance responsivity calibrations of InSb radiometers measured on the tunable-laser based Infrared Spectral Irradiance and Radiance Responsivity Calibration with Uniform Sources (IR-SIRCUS) facility are discussed. This work describes the following changes undertaken to reduce the uncertainties of the calibrations: improve the spatial uniformity, reduce the laser-induced speckle from the gold-coated integrating spheres between 1 um and 5 um, improve the stability of the OPO tunable laser, reduce the noise from the signal-to-monitor ratio, increase the repeatability of measurements, reduce the stray light and fringe problems of the radiometer under test. Measurements of the spatial uniformity with the use of PTFE and gold-coated integrating spheres at different wavelengths have been performed. Different approaches for generating a uniform source, removing the speckle, stabilizing the laser, and improving the signal-to-monitor ratio are also described. The spatial non-uniformity after using these approaches has been shown to be reduced to < 1 %. The uncertainty budget of spectral irradiance responsivity calibrations is discussed, and is found to be mainly due to the measurement repeatability uncertainty component of 1 %. Calibrated radiometers are tested against a source-based scale from the calculated spectral irradiances obtained using a precision aperture and a blackbody with a known temperature.

Proceedings Title

SPIE Optics and Photonics 2009

Conference Dates

August 2-6, 2009

Conference Location

San Diego, CA

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

infrared OPO tunable lasers, infrared spectral irradiance responsivity, InSb radiometers, integrating spheres

Citation

Zeng, J. , Yoon, H. , Eppeldauer, G. , Hanssen, L. and Rice, J. (2009), Spectral irradiance responsivity calibration of InSb radiometers using the improved IR-SIRCUS at NIST, SPIE Optics and Photonics 2009, San Diego, CA (Accessed October 2, 2025)