Optical Analysis of a Linear-Array Thermal Radiation Detector for Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget Applications

The Thermal Radiation Group, a laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is currently working to develop a new technology for thermal radiation detectors. The Group is also studying the viability of replacing current Earth Radiation Budget radiometers with this new concept. This next-generation detector consists of a thermopile linear array thermal radiation detector. The principal objective of this research is to develop an optical model for the detector and its cavity. The model based on the Monte-Carlo ray-trace (MCRT) method, permits parametric studies to optimize the design of the detector cavity and the specification of surface optical properties. The model is realized as a FORTRAN program which permits the calculation of quantities related to the cross-talk among pixels of the detector and radiation exchange among surfaces of the cavity. An important capability of the tool is that it provides estimates of the discrete Green's function that permits partial correction for optical cross-talk among pixels of the array.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Sanchez, Maria Cristina

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Mahan, James Robert

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Scott, Elaine P.
• Thomas, James R. Jr.

• optical cross-talk
• Linear-array thermal radiation detector
• Monte-Carlo ray-trace method
• cavity effect

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-21098-21163

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36536