Photoresponse of a miniaturized metal film bolometer to ultrashort mid- and far-infrared laser pulses

We report on an investigation of a photoresponse induced in a novel, miniaturized low-noise metal resistor film bolometer when irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses (duration 100 ps to 200 ns) with wavelengths covering the mid- and far-infrared spectral ranges. Successful operation at room temperature was achieved and almost constant detectivity was found over the whole frequency range investigated (15–1100 cm⁻¹). The minimum detectable laser pulse energy was determined to be about 0.6 μ J (with an electronic bandwidth of 1 kHz). This high detectivity and the miniaturized dimensions afford the possibility of building detector arrays applicable in mid- and far-infrared spectroscopy.