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Bolometers are sensors that absorb radiation detected from objects.
Unlike the cooled detectors that they replace, the new sensors work at ambient temperatures. The microbolometers use two superimposed materials. One is an absorber that converts the incident infrared radiation into an increase in temperature. The second material converts the temperature increase into electrical signals. Applications for the technology include night vision devices for military and aerospace industries, as well as preventative maintenance and monitoring of industrial processes.