New highly sensitive pyroelectric linear arrays for infrared spectroscopy
19. Jan 2018
Pyroelectric linear arrays PYROSENS from DIAS Infrared are perfectly suited for use in dispersive sensor systems for the analysis of chemical substances.
DIAS Infrared shows sensitive technology at the Photonics West in San Francisco
Their excellent properties, such as high signal-to-noise ratio, very low drift effects and high sensitivity over a wide spectral range, make these linear arrays based on lithium tantalate particularly attractive.
In recent years, numerous developments have been made to meet the demanding requirements of spectroscopy. With a pitch of 100 μm (128 elements), 50 μm (256 elements) or 25 μm (510 elements), the pixel length was increased to typically 500 μm. By reducing the element thicknesses to values around 5 μm by means of modern ion beam etching processes, the noise equivalent radiation power (NEP) is significantly improved. An additionally structured thin NiCr absorber layer increases the radiation absorption and realizes an uniform spectral behavior. The thermal crosstalk between elements is significantly reduced by isolation trenches, which are also produced by ion beam etching. These trenches allow the use of linear PYROSENS arrays even at low modulation frequency (e.g. 10 Hz). This leads to very low NEP values, which means particularly good signal-to-noise ratios.
On the basis of these advanced arrays, very compact and sensitive dispersive sensor systems can be built in combination with linear variable filters.
For more information, please visit us at the Photonics West Exhibition in San Francisco (The Moscone Center, booth 2530) from January 30 to February 1, 2018. Our specialist Dr. Ing. Reinhard Köhler is personally at your disposal.