Patent ID: 8203122

Claim:
A method of detecting an electromagnetic wave, the method comprising: a step of preparing a radiation detector, wherein the radiation detector comprises a thin film, a substrate, an electromagnetic wave reflection film, a first electrode, and a second electrode, the substrate is sandwiched between the thin film and the electromagnetic wave reflection film, the thin film is a crystal, has anisotropy in its Seebeck coefficient, and has a crystal plane serving as a factor in inducing anisotropy, the substrate is a crystal, an angle α formed between the crystal plane of the thin film and a surface of the substrate is not less than 10° and not more than 80°, an angle β formed between a low-index plane of the substrate and the surface of the substrate is not less than 10° and not more than 80°, the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to the thin film; and a step of detecting a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to determine that the radiation detector is irradiated with the electromagnetic wave if the potential difference is detected.