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Abstract

A thermal sensor or sensor array for detecting including imaging of low level radiation. The sensor utilizes a thin film of pyro-optical material to modulate the reflectivity and/or transmission of a photonic carrier beam. The photonic carrier beam is modulated by the temperature of the pyro-optical film and detected by typically a silicon detector. A slight increase in the temperature of the pyro-optical film due to absorbed low level radiation causes a corresponding change in the electrical resistance of heaters within each pixel of the thermal sensor array. An external fixed amplitude voltage or current source provides power to increase the temperature of the pyro-optical film beyond the heating caused by the absorption of low level radiation alone. This thermal amplification effect provides a radiation sensor with electro-thermal signal gain.

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First Claim