The theory of metallic bolometers

Abstract

In the paper all the important parameters of metallic bolometers are derived on the assumption that cooling only takes place by conduction through the gas surrounding the bolometer and these parameters are described by means of dimensionless relative quantities independent of the dimensions of the bolometer. Universally valid diagrams are given for the dimensionless parameters of metallic bolometers from which the properties of an arbitrary metal bolometer can be determined in a simple way. A general expression is derived for the relative sensitivity of the bolometer containing only the temperature coefficient and the temperature increase of the bolometer above its surroundings.