Graphene-based bolometer
AssigneeRaytheon BBN Technologies Corp.
InventorKin Chung Fong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bolometer. In one embodiment a graphene sheet is configured to absorb electromagnetic waves. The graphene sheet has two contacts connected to an amplifier, and a power detector connected to the amplifier. Electromagnetic power in the evanescent electromagnetic waves is absorbed in the graphene sheet, heating the graphene sheet. The power of Johnson noise generated at the contacts is proportional to the temperature of the graphene sheet. The Johnson noise is amplified and the power in the Johnson noise is used as a measure of the temperature of the graphene sheet, and of the amount of electromagnetic wave power absorbed by the graphene sheet.
Claims16
A bolometer comprising:
- a graphene sheet having a first pair of contacts and configured:
- to be coupled to received electromagnetic waves;
- to have a temperature, when electromagnetic power in the received electromagnetic waves is absorbed by the graphene sheet, corresponding to the amount of electromagnetic power absorbed by the graphene sheet;
- and
- to generate thermal noise at the first pair of contacts at a level corresponding to the temperature
- a Fabry-Perot resonator comprising two mirrors, the graphene sheet being between the two mirrors;
- and
- a circuit connected to the first pair of contacts, the circuit configured to measure the thermal noise level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.