Low-Cost and Affordable Thermistor-Based Wideband Sub-THz Detector with Dielectric Waveguide Coupling

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Bolometric detection is crucial for sensing electromagnetic radiation across a broad frequency spectrum.
• Traditional bolometer fabrication is often costly and complex.
• There is a need for accessible and affordable radiation detection solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a simple, cost-effective bolometric detector.
• To utilize a commercially available thermistor as the primary sensing element.
• To integrate a 3D-printed optical component with a dielectric waveguide for radiation focusing.

Main Methods:

• A commercially available thermistor was employed as the radiation sensing element.
• A custom optical element was designed and 3D-printed for efficient radiation coupling.
• The optical element was integrated with a dielectric waveguide.
• An electronic setup was developed for measuring the thermistor's response to radiation.

Main Results:

• An affordable bolometric detector was successfully fabricated.
• The device demonstrated acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and responsivity.
• Performance metrics were achieved at the hundreds of volts per watt level.

Conclusions:

• The proposed device offers a low-cost alternative for bolometric radiation detection.
• The integration of 3D-printed optics provides an accessible method for radiation focusing.
• This approach makes bolometric detection more accessible for various applications.