Electrical Substitution Radiometer Research Articles

Recent advances and perspectives in photometry in the era of LED lighting

Photometry contributes to our understanding how the world is perceived by the human visual system, where a specific example is an early study of photographic plates. Nowadays photometry has an important role in measurement of lighting, particularly in the transition from incandescent lighting to LED lighting. In the context of sustainability and energy efficiency, updated photometric methods are needed that address the spectral, color, geometrical, and temporal characteristics of LED light sources. Highlights of the recent advances in these measurement methods are reviewed. Furthermore, challenges and achievements are described in the measurement of optical power, particularly related to the definition of the photometric SI base unit, the candela. These achievements are based on progress in the development of underpinning optical measurement standards, with a focus on technologies like the electrical substitution radiometer and the predictable quantum efficient detector. As a conclusion, the importance of ongoing research and development in photometry is emphasized considering its crucial role in supporting the advances of LED lighting technology and sustainable development goals of lighting industry.

Radionuclide-free efficiency calibration of an HPGe detector using monochromatic photon beams calibrated with a cryogenic radiometer

A cryogenic electrical-substitution radiometer was used for the primary calibration of monochromatic photon beams at synchrotron, which are in turn employed to determine the intrinsic efficiency of an HPGe detector between 3.5 keV and 8 keV. This allowed the determination of the thickness of the dead layer, which enabled the calculation of the efficiency up to 55 keV, where the active thickness is not determinant. The geometrical efficiency was determined through the measurement of a radioactive source at variable distances.

Spaceborne Relative Radiometer: Instrument Design and Pre-Flight Test

In order to simultaneously determine the values of total solar irradiance (TSI) and the Earth’s radiation at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) on board the Fengyun-3F satellite, a spaceborne relative radiometer (SRR) was developed. It adopts a dual-channel structure, including a solar radiometer channel (SR) with an unobstructed field of view (FOV) of 1.5° and an Earth radiometer channel (ER) with a wide field of view (WFOV) of 95.3° and a diameter of about 1900 km on the ground. Before the launch, both the SR and ER were calibrated. The SR, installed on the inner frame of the solar tracker of the SIM-II (solar irradiance monitor-II), is used to observe rapid changes in solar radiance with the SIAR (solar irradiance absolute radiometer), an electrical-substitution radiometer, on orbit. The ER is mounted on the U-shaped frame of the solar tracker, directly pointing in the nadir direction. Additionally, a dark space observation mode is used to determine the on-orbit background noise and lunar observation mode for on-orbit calibration. In this article, the instrument design and working principle of the SRR is first introduced, and an analysis of the measurement model of the ER, the WFOV channel of the SRR, is focused on. Finally, ground test results of the SRR are introduced.

Comparison of X-ray Radiant Power Absolute Measurement between a Free-Air Ionization Chamber and a Cryogenic Electrical Substitution Radiometer.

Absolute measurement of radiant power in the X-ray region is essential for many applications in astrophysics, spectroscopy, and X-ray diagnostics. Comparison between different measuring methods is an effective way to check their reliability. In the present work, a comparison of X-ray radiant power absolute measurement between a free-air ionization chamber and a cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer was performed at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The absolute radiant power obtained by these two methods were mutually compared via a transfer standard detector's spectral responsivity at a photon energy of 10 keV. The result of the comparison showed that the difference was 0.47%. A conclusion was reached that the free-air ionization chamber and the cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer agreed within the combined relative uncertainty of 3.35%.

Generalized electrical substitution methods and detectors for absolute optical power measurements

We have developed generalized methods for electrical substitution optical measurements, as well as cryogenic detectors which can be used to implement them. The new methods detailed here enable measurement of arbitrary periodic waveforms by an electrical substitution radiometer (ESR), which means that spectral and dynamic optical power can be absolutely calibrated directly by a primary standard detector. Cryogenic ESRs are not often used directly by researchers for optical calibrations due to their slow response times and cumbersome operation. We describe two types of ESRs with fast response times, including newly developed cryogenic bolometers with carbon nanotube absorbers, which are manufacturable by standard microfabrication techniques. These detectors have response times near 10 ms, spectral coverage from the ultraviolet to far-infrared, and are ideal for use with generalized electrical substitution. In our first tests of the generalized electrical substitution method with FTS, we have achieved uncertainty in detector response of 0.13% (k = 1) and total measurement uncertainty of 1.1% (k = 1) in the mid-infrared for spectral detector responsivity calibrations. The generalized method and fast detectors greatly expand the range of optical power calibrations which can be made using a wideband primary standard detector, which can shorten calibration chains and improve uncertainties.

Design, Implementation and Characterization of Cavity for Absolute Radiometer

Absolute radiometers are based on electrical substitution radiometers, which compare optical and electrical power. The same physical principle applies to standard reference detectors operating at cryogenic temperatures and room temperature radiometers for total solar irradiance (TSI) measurements. Both types rely on the cavity with an internal low-reflectance coating to absorb incident radiation similar to a black body. The cavity shape design requires an analysis of the coating reflection properties. Like many materials, ultra-black Ni-P exhibits a mixture of diffuse and specular reflection that depends on the angle of incidence of light in the pores. We employed ray-tracing software to study the impact of the geometry on the absorptivity and distribution of the scattered rays. We describe the scattering model of the black coating in terms of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function. Also, we examined the difficulties of Ni-P electroless deposition and blackening inside the cavity. The measured absorptance of the cavity showed some discrepancies of the simulated absorptance mostly probably due to Ni-P non-uniformity coating.

Room temperature laser power standard using a microfabricated, electrical substitution bolometer.

The design and performance of a room temperature electrical substitution radiometer for use as an absolute standard for measuring continuous-wave laser power over a wide range of wavelengths, beam diameters, and powers are described. The standard achieves an accuracy of 0.46% (k = 2) for powers from 10 mW to 100 mW and 0.83% (k = 2) for powers from 1 mW to 10 mW and can accommodate laser beam diameters (1/e2) up to 11mm and wavelengths from 300nm to 2 μm. At low power levels, the uncertainty is dominated by sensitivity to fluctuations in the thermal environment. The core of the instrument is a planar, silicon microfabricated bolometer with vertically aligned carbon nanotube absorbers, commercial surface mount thermistors, and an integrated heater. Where possible, commercial electronics and components were used. The performance was validated by comparing it to a National Institute of Standards and Technology primary standard through a transfer standard silicon trap detector and by comparing it to the legacy "C-series" standards in operation at the U.S. Air Force Metrology and Calibration Division (AFMETCAL).

SI-traceable Spectral Irradiance Radiometric Characterization and Absolute Calibration of the TSIS-1 Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM)

The current implementation for continuous, long-term solar spectral irradiance (SSI) monitoring is the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM) that began operations from the International Space Station (ISS) in March 2018 and nominally provides an SSI spectrum every 12 h. Advances in both instrument design and spectral irradiance calibration techniques have resulted in the TSIS-1 SIM achieving higher absolute accuracy than its predecessor instrument in the wavelength range (200–2400 nm). A comprehensive detector-based Spectral Radiometer Facility (SRF) was developed in collaboration with the US National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to ensure the ties to spectral SI standards in power and irradiance. Traceability is achieved via direct laser calibration of a focal plane electrical substitution radiometer (ESR) against a cryogenic radiometer in power and also irradiance responsivity via calibrated apertures. The SIM accuracy definition followed an absolute sensor approach based on a full radiometric measurement equation where component-level performance characterizations and calibrations were quantified with an associated uncertainty error budget and verified by independent measurements for each parameter. Unit-level characterizations were completed over the full operational envelope of external driving factors (e.g., pointing and temperature ranges) and were allowed for the independent parameterization of sub-assembly performance for expected operating conditions. Validation and final instrument end-to-end absolute calibration in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)-SRF achieved low combined standard uncertainty (uc < 0.25%, k = 1) in spectral irradiance.

Design and calibration of electrical substitution radiometer traced to absolute cryogenic radiometer

The quantification of remote sensing information requires spectral radiometric calibration technology support with high accuracy, and this technology can ensure the comparability, accuracy, and long-term stability of data acquisition for sensor. Now, the calibration technique traced to the absolute cryogenic radiometer (ACR) is the trend of development. To improve the accuracy of infrared absolute spectral responsivity, a gold-plated hemisphere reflector is added to a thermopile detector with electrical substitution pins. So an infrared electrical substitution radiometer (ESR) is developed as the standard transfer detector. The spectral response linearity, uniformity, and stability of ESR are tested by electric substitution technology. We also have established a radiometric calibration system based on ACR. The combined uncertainty in the spectral responsivity of this detector from 0.7 to 20 μm is about 0.99%. The application of infrared ESR to radiometric calibration can improve the calibration accuracy of detectors through its shorter calibration chain.

Measurement of the absolute spectral responsivity in the mid-infrared based on the cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer and an optimized thermopile detector

Abstract. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) expanded its capabilities of the absolute measurement of radiant power to the spectral range of the mid-infrared (MIR) by implementing additional MIR laser radiation sources at one of the PTB's cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer facilities. This extension enables absolute calibrations of the spectral responsivity of detectors in the MIR traceable to the International System of Units (SI). The thermopile detector TS-76 was characterized and calibrated in view of its spectral responsivity s(λ) in the wavelength range between 1.5 and 10.6 µm at the expanded cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer facility. The relative standard measurement uncertainty was significantly reduced to 1.4 % by developing an optimized and thermally stabilized detector housing design. The TS-76 was established as a mid-infrared transfer detector for the SI traceable measurement of radiant power and the dissemination of the spectral responsivity s(λ) in the MIR.

Characterization of a quadrant diamond transmission X-ray detector including a precise determination of the mean electron-hole pair creation energy.

Precise monitoring of the incoming photon flux is crucial for many experiments using synchrotron radiation. For photon energies above a few keV, thin semiconductor photodiodes can be operated in transmission for this purpose. Diamond is a particularly attractive material as a result of its low absorption. The responsivity of a state-of-the art diamond quadrant transmission detector has been determined, with relative uncertainties below 1% by direct calibration against an electrical substitution radiometer. From these data and the measured transmittance, the thickness of the involved layers as well as the mean electron-hole pair creation energy were determined, the latter with an unprecedented relative uncertainty of 1%. The linearity and X-ray scattering properties of the device are also described.

The development of the advanced cryogenic radiometer facility at NRC

The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has established a next generation facility for the primary realization of optical radiant power. The main feature of this facility is a new cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer with a closed-cycle helium cryocooler. A monochromator-based approach allows for detector calibrations at any desired wavelength. A custom-designed motion apparatus includes two transfer standard radiometer mounting ports which has increased our measurement capability by allowing the calibration of two photodetectors in one measurement cycle. Measurement uncertainties have been improved through several upgrades, including newly designed and constructed transimpedance amplifiers for the transfer standard radiometers, and a higher power broadband light source. The most significant improvements in uncertainty arise from the enhanced characteristics of the new cryogenic radiometer including its higher cavity absorptance and reduced non-equivalence effects.

Demonstration of a dual-mode Si detector as a self-calibrating device at room temperature.

We demonstrate the use of a dual-mode detector for determining the internal quantum deficiency of a silicon photodiode without the use of an external reference. This is achieved by combining two different principles for measuring optical power in one device, where the photodiode is used as absorber for both thermal and photon detection. Thermal detection is obtained by the same principle as for an electrical substitution radiometer (ESR), with a type A measurement uncertainty of 0.34 % in unstabilized room temperature. The optical power measured in thermal mode was around 3 % ± 0.5 % higher than what was measured in photocurrent mode. Heat transfer simulations revealed a difference of up to 2.2 % between optical and electrical heating, and based on these simulations we give recommendations for improvements of the detector thermal design.

Initial In-flight Results: The Total Solar Irradiance Monitor on the FY-3C Satellite, an Instrument with a Pointing System

The total solar irradiance (TSI) has been recorded daily since October 2013 by the Total Solar Irradiance Monitor (TSIM) onboard the FY-3C satellite, which is mainly designed for Earth observation. The TSIM has a pointing system to perform solar tracking using a sun sensor. The TSI is measured by two electrical substitution radiometers with traceability to the World Radiation Reference. The TSI value measured with the TSIM on 2 October 2013 is \(1364.88~\mbox{W}\,\mbox{m}^{-2}\) with an uncertainty of \(1.08~\mbox{W}\,\mbox{m}^{-2}\). Short-term TSI variations recorded with the TSIM show good agreement with SOHO/VIRGO and SORCE/TIM. The data quality and accuracy of FY-3C/TSIM are much better than its predecessors on the FY-3A and FY-3B satellites, which operated in a scanning mode.

Investigation of Thermal Response Model for Solar Irradiance Absolute Radiometer

Solar Irradiance Absolute Radiometer (SIAR) is a cavity-type electrical substitution radiometer for transferring the World Radiance Reference (WRR). In order to shorten the measurement period, and ensure the measurement precision, the cavity temperature response model is experimentally investigated and corrected. The thermodynamic equation of cavity temperature is solved. Based on the analysis of non-equivalent in optical and electrical heating, the cavity temperature response model is corrected to a double exponential form. The simulation result analyzes the origin of the temperature pulse. A new characteristic parameter, named as non-equivalent response time, is proposed and measured. The cavity temperature response characteristic of SIAR is improved by the compensation of the temperature pulse. Comparison experiment results illustrate that the temperature pulse can be compensated by inserting a delay time, and the cavity temperature response model is simplified to a single exponential form. Thus, SIAR with large thermal time constant can adopt shorter measurement period, meanwhile measurement precision is 0.07%. The investigation of non-equivalent response time is important for the radiant calibration of SIAR. This correction method can also be used to optimize the on-orbit calibration method of Total Solar Irradiance Monitor (TSIM).

Total Solar Irradiance Monitor for the FY-3B Satellite – Space Experiments and Primary Data Corrections

We present space experiments of the Total Solar Irradiance Monitor (TSIM) on the FY-3B satellite. The total solar irradiance (TSI) has been measured by TSIM/FY-3B continuously for nearly four years, with some short data gaps. Overlapping measurements of the TSI are provided by the TSIM, with three electrical substitution radiometers that are mounted with different alignment angles onto the leading face of the satellite. TSI measurements are normalized to a distance of 1 AU and zero velocity with respect to the Sun. The relative uncertainty in the TSI measurements is 910 parts per million. TSI values measured with TSIM/FY-3B are around 1365 W m−2, slightly lower than VIRGO/SOHO and higher than TIM/SORCE values. Most of the time, it is found that short time-scale variations in TSI detected by TSIM/FY-3B agree with other space TSI instruments.

Experimental measurements and noise analysis of a cryogenic radiometer.

A cryogenic radiometer device, intended for use as part of an electrical-substitution radiometer, was measured at low temperature. The device consists of a receiver cavity mechanically and thermally connected to a temperature-controlled stage through a thin-walled polyimide tube which serves as a weak thermal link. With the temperature difference between the receiver and the stage measured in millikelvin and the electrical power measured in picowatts, the measured responsivity was 4700 K/mW and the measured thermal time constant was 14 s at a stage temperature of 1.885 K. Noise analysis in terms of Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) was used to quantify the various fundamental and technical noise contributions, including phonon noise and Johnson-Nyquist noise. The noise analysis clarifies the path toward a cryogenic radiometer with a noise floor limited by fundamental phonon noise, where the magnitude of the phonon NEP is 6.5 fW/√Hz for the measured experimental parameters.

Predictable quantum efficient detector: II. Characterization and confirmed responsivity

The predictable quantum efficient detector (PQED) is intended to become a new primary standard for radiant power measurements in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 800 nm. Characterization results of custom-made single induced junction photodiodes as they are used in the PQED and of assembled PQEDs are presented. The single photodiodes were tested in terms of linearity and spatial uniformity of the spectral responsivity. The highly uniform photodiodes were proved to be linear over seven orders of magnitude, i.e. in the radiant power range from 100 pW to 400 µW. The assembled PQED has been compared with a cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer with a very low uncertainty of the order of 30 ppm. Experimental results show good agreement with the modelled response of the PQED to optical radiation and prove a near unity external quantum efficiency.

Thermodynamic temperature measurements of the melting temperatures of Co–C, Pt–C and Re–C fixed points at NRC

This paper outlines measurements made at the National Research Council Canada (NRC) of the thermodynamic melting temperatures of Co–C, Pt–C and Re–C fixed points that have been part of the high-temperature fixed-point research plan of Working Group 5 of the Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT-WG5) to assign melting temperatures to those fixed points. This document will outline the equipment used, describe the scheme used to calibrate a pyrometer with traceability to a cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer, and detail the method of measuring the fixed points. It will then report the uncertainties in the measurements and the results. A brief description of the improvements that we plan to implement to the scheme to reduce the uncertainties for future measurements will be given. The thermodynamic temperatures determined for the three fixed points are: 1597.776 K with an expanded uncertainty of 0.36 K, 2011.390 K with an expanded uncertainty of 0.55 K, and 2748.056 K with an expanded uncertainty of 0.95 K, for the Co–C, Pt–C and Re–C fixed points, respectively (all expanded uncertainties assume a 95% confidence interval and a Gaussian distribution).

Measurement of the mass energy-absorption coefficient of air for x-rays in the range from 3 to 60 keV

For the first time the absolute photon mass energy-absorption coefficient of air in the energy range of 10 to 60 keV has been measured with relative standard uncertainties below 1%, considerably smaller than those of up to 2% assumed for calculated data. For monochromatized synchrotron radiation from the electron storage ring BESSY II both the radiant power and the fraction of power deposited in dry air were measured using a cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer and a free air ionization chamber, respectively. The measured absorption coefficients were compared with state-of-the art calculations and showed an average deviation of 2% from calculations by Seltzer. However, they agree within 1% with data calculated earlier by Hubbell. In the course of this work, an improvement of the data analysis of a previous experimental determination of the mass energy-absorption coefficient of air in the range of 3 to 10 keV was found to be possible and corrected values of this preceding study are given.