Optical microcavity resonance measurements can have readout noise matching the fundamental limit set by thermal fluctuations in the cavity. Small-heat-capacity, wavelength-scale microcavities can be used as bolometers that bypass the limitations of other bolometer technologies. The microcavities can be implemented as photonic crystal cavities or micro-disks that are thermally coupled to strong mid-IR or LWIR absorbers, such as pyrolytic carbon columns. Each microcavity and the associated absorber(s) rest on hollow pillars that extend from a substrate and thermally isolate the cavity and the absorber(s) from the rest of the bolometer. This ensures that thermal transfer to the absorbers is predominantly from radiation as opposed to from conduction. As the absorbers absorb thermal radiation, they shift the resonance wavelength of the cavity. The cavity transduces this thermal change into an optical signal by reflecting or scattering more (or less) near-infrared (NIR) probe light as a function of the resonance wavelength shift.

Optical microcavity resonance measurements can have readout noise matching the fundamental limit set by thermal fluctuations in the cavity. Small-heat-capacity, wavelength-scale microcavities can be used as bolometers that bypass the limitations of other bolometer technologies. The microcavities can be implemented as photonic crystal cavities or micro-disks that are thermally coupled to strong mid-IR or LWIR absorbers, such as pyrolytic carbon columns. Each microcavity and the associated absorber(s) rest on hollow pillars that extend from a substrate and thermally isolate the cavity and the absorber(s) from the rest of the bolometer. This ensures that thermal transfer to the absorbers is predominantly from radiation as opposed to from conduction. As the absorbers absorb thermal radiation, they shift the resonance wavelength of the cavity. The cavity transduces this thermal change into an optical signal by reflecting or scattering more (or less) near-infrared (NIR) probe light as a function of the resonance wavelength shift.

High speed and spectrally selective pyroelectric detectors with plasmonic structure and methods of making and using same are disclosed. According to an aspect, a pyroelectric detector includes an artificial optical absorber or plasmonic absorber comprising an ensemble of subwavelength conductive components forming a plasmonic structure configured to receive light and to generate thermal energy from the received light. Further, the pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric material configured to receive the generated thermal energy from the plasmonic structure and to generate an electrical signal representative of the received thermal energy. Further, the pyroelectric detector includes an electronic component configured to receive the electrical signal from the pyroelectric material for detection of the received light.

High speed and spectrally selective pyroelectric detectors with plasmonic structure and methods of making and using same are disclosed. According to an aspect, a pyroelectric detector includes an artificial optical absorber or plasmonic absorber comprising an ensemble of subwavelength conductive components forming a plasmonic structure configured to receive light and to generate thermal energy from the received light. Further, the pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric material configured to receive the generated thermal energy from the plasmonic structure and to generate an electrical signal representative of the received thermal energy. Further, the pyroelectric detector includes an electronic component configured to receive the electrical signal from the pyroelectric material for detection of the received light.

Aspects of the present disclosure relation to systems, methods, and apparatus for correcting thermal processing of substrates. In one aspect, a corrective absorption factor curve having a plurality of corrective absorption factors is generated.

Aspects of the present disclosure relation to systems, methods, and apparatus for correcting thermal processing of substrates. In one aspect, a corrective absorption factor curve having a plurality of corrective absorption factors is generated.

Provided is a long-wave infrared detecting element including a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field, a substrate provided on the magnetic field generator, a magnetic-electric converter that is spaced apart from the substrate and configured to generate an electrical signal based on the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, and an support unit that is provided on the substrate and supports the magnetic-electric converter in a state in which the magnetic-electric converter is spaced apart from the substrate, the support unit being configured to generate heat by absorbing incident infrared radiation, wherein the electrical signal changes corresponding to temperature changes of the magnetic-electric converter based on the incident infrared radiation directly absorbed in the magnetic-electric converter and temperature changes of the magnetic-electric converter based on the incident infrared radiation absorbed in the support unit.

A self-referenced ambient radiation thermometer determines a temperature of a blackbody object and includes a temperature stabilized detector; a detector lens; a Lyot stop; a collimating lens; a field stop; an optical chopper such that the central radiation received by the temperature stabilized detector is modulated at a modulation frequency of the optical chopper; an objective lens in optical communication with the blackbody object and the temperature stabilized detector, optically interposed between the blackbody object and the field stop and that: receives the central radiation from the blackbody object and communicates the central radiation to the field stop; and a temperature-stabilized isothermal enclosure that provides a stable temperature and isothermal environment to elements disposed in the temperature-stabilized isothermal enclosure, wherein the elements disposed in the temperature-stabilized isothermal enclosure comprise: the temperature stabilized detector, the detector lens, the collimating lens, the Lyot stop, and the field stop.

Embodiments disclosed herein facilitates the monitoring of direct ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure by a person via a system having a sensor (such as Lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin-film sensors or other ferroelectric-based sensors) sensitive to UVB radiation. The system beneficially provides current real-time dosage information associated with Vitamin D production by the person as well as real-time indication of safe exposure and/or harmful exposure to current UVB radiation conditions while also, in some embodiments, takes into consideration a person's age, skin type and sensitivity, body surface area exposed.

Embodiments disclosed herein facilitates the monitoring of direct ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure by a person via a system having a sensor (such as Lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) thin-film sensors or other ferroelectric-based sensors) sensitive to UVB radiation. The system beneficially provides current real-time dosage information associated with Vitamin D production by the person as well as real-time indication of safe exposure and/or harmful exposure to current UVB radiation conditions while also, in some embodiments, takes into consideration a person's age, skin type and sensitivity, body surface area exposed.