3A19 Pneumatic IR detector (Golay cell) using freely suspended liquid crystal film

Abstract

The well known IR detector (Golay cell) utilizes a mechanical energy of a pneumatic circuit coupled with an optical system for measuring mechanical displacement caused by the incoming radiation signal. The essential drawback of the pneumatic detector is the low response time (τ_0〜8 ms), depending of inertia of the flexible collodion membrane and caloric inertia of air at atmospheric pressure. Here we report the Golay cell equipped with thin freely suspended liquid crystal film. The replacement of polymer film in conventional Golay cell by liquid crystalline film results in essential improvement of the sensor response characteristic (100 times) without undue sacrifice of its sensitivity.