X-ray/UV single photon detectors with isotropic Seebeck sensors

A novel hot-electron microbolometer concept suitable for hyperspectral imag ing at high photon counting rates is described. When each photon is absorbe d, its energy is thermalized and homogenized within the normal-metal absorb er to provide a highly reproducible temperature gradient across a thin film thermoelectric sensor which separates the absorber from a heat sink. The c lassical Seebeck effect results in an observable signal voltage, proportion al to the time-dependent temperature gradient, without any externally appli ed bias current or voltage. Highly preliminary results on a single pixel de vice are presented and the projected performance of the fully developed dev ice is analyzed, emphasizing the spectral resolution, noise sources, and su itability for large arrays of detector pixels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.