12 Jan 2021 Every object emits heat in the form electromagnetic radiation, and sampling the energy transmitted through space to a detector allows the measurement of the temperature of a target without ever having to make contact with it.
The wavelength of the light radiated by the target is dependent on its temperature, with hotter objects generating light at shorter wavelengths. Thermal detectors have the broadest wavelength response with the constraining factor being the transmission of the material used to seal the sensor and housing. Pyroelectric detectors are ideal for this application with high temperature stability, excellent signal to noise ratio and low cost. A pyroelectric substance is distinguished by having an internal crystallographic structure that will move slightly in response to a variation in temperature, rearranging the electric charge within the solid generating a voltage which can be measured using a set of electrodes deposited on the faces of the lithium tantalate crystal.
LASER COMPONENTS is a world-leading producer of pyroelectric sensors. From our development and manufacturing facility we supply customers all over the world with these industrial grade thermal detectors. The devices are manufactured in standard transistor outline style packages and have operational lifetimes measured in tens of thousands of hours making them ideal for this fit and forget application.
Further information https://www.lasercomponents.com/uk/lasers/laser-diodes/ | 
