Nanosecond detector of infrared radiation based on thin pyroelectric films

The features of detection of short radiation pulses by thermal detectors based on thin pyroelectric films with the radiation energy deposited in a thin absorbing electrode are considered. It is demonstrated that the minimum response time of the sample to radiation pulses is determined by the time of thermal relaxation of the absorbing electrode. Specifically, picosecond pulses may be detected with a 0.5-μm-thick pyroelectric film and a 0.01-μm-thick absorbing electrode.