ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we pointed out the importance of the radiation detector in the design and performance of radiation thermometers, and introduced the noise equivalent power (NEP) and the specific detectivity D∗ as figures of merit for the comparison and selection of suitable detectors for a given application. In this chapter, we shall consider the characteristics of the different types of detectors in more detail, including not only these parameters and the responsivity, but the much wider range which may affect the choice for a particular instrument and which may influence the way in which the thermometer is used.
