Blackbody Radiation Sources for the IR Spectral Range

Metrological radiometric facilities for optoelectronic instruments calibration utilize in terms of standards as radiation detectors in a form of cryogenic radiometers (CR), so as radiation sources. However in practice, there are no CR working within IR spectral range. An alternative way of radiometric calibration in middle and far IR ranges is to develop a parametric series of standard radiation sources -blackbody (BB) models. The paper describes some of BBs developed at VNIIOFI for the last time [1] from cryogenic (80 K to 200 K), to low (about 200 K to 400 K) and medium (400 K to 700 K) temperature regions for calibration of the IR instruments under cryogenic-vacuum conditions. These BBs are presented by models of both types: variable-temperature and based on fixed points of Ga or In. BBs are characterized with high temperature uniformity and stability. Copper and aluminum alloys are used as the radiation cavity materials. The required value of emissivity epsilon(lambda) is achieved by using different black coatings. Low-temperature and cryogenic BBs are based on the principles of indirect multi-zone electric heating (with heat isolation from LN2 cooling loop, or by using an external liquid thermostat with circulating heat-transfer agent. The principles of operation, design and test results of BBs are described.