What is a Pyroelectric Detector?
It’s a fast (sub microsecond), spectrally flat thermal detector whose current output (it’s an AC current source) is directly proportional to the rate of change of its temperature: I = P(t)dT/dt. We make our Pyroelectric detectors from the Ferroelectric crystal Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3). The typical output for a sensitive Pyroelectric element is 1 uA/W. What is Pyroelectric Detector used for? A Pyroelectric detector when combined with a current mode (CM) or voltage mode (VM) electronic circuit can be used measure optical power or pulse energy. A Pyroelectric must be used with a chopped, modulated or pulsed source. To measure power (radiant flux in W) the detector and electronics are used in the flat Bandwidth frequency range where they can be calibrated in V/W. To measure pulse energy (joules) the detector and amplifier are used with pulses whose duration is less than the RC time constant of the circuit and can be calibrated in V/J.
