Understanding radiometer linearity and calibration for accurate optical measurements
This chapter guides you through the radiometric treatment of non-linear radiometers and how to extract a true response function. It covers practical techniques like beam addition, beam attenuation, and the inverse-square law, showing how non-radiometric measurements can help calibrate the system. The text emphasizes using experimental data to fit a compact model with a few coefficients, then applying this model to real measurements with consistency and clarity.
In this edition, you’ll learn how to:
- identify and model non-linearity in radiometer outputs
- design experiments using beam addition and attenuation to solve for response coefficients
- apply the inverse-square law with proper corrections to relate distance and signal
- handle dark current and its effect on calibration and precision
Ideal for students, engineers, and technicians working with optical radiation measurements who need practical methods for calibration and data interpretation.