Design of an ultraviolet radiometer 1: Detector electrical characteristics

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Abstract
An ultraviolet radiometer has been designed to the exacting standards required for use in a space simulation facility. In this paper the electrical characteristics, photocurrent linearity, and noise performance (when used with high quality operational amplifiers) of available photodetectors are examined. A combined experimental and theoretical assessment shows that GaAsP Schottky barrier photodiodes are superior to both diffused-junction and inversion-type silicon photodetectors in both high current linearity and noise performance. This results in GaAsP devices having an increased dynamic range at room temperature, a significant radiometric advantage. The superiority of the GaAsP diodes is further increased at higher operating temperatures. The following paper discusses UV stability and responsivity/filtering requirements of both types of device.