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.