bolometer

American  

[boh-lom-i-ter, buh-] / boʊˈlɒm ɪ tər, bə- /

noun

Physics.

1. a device for measuring minute amounts of radiant energy by determining the changes of resistance in an electric conductor caused by changes in its temperature.

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bolometer British  

/ bəʊˈlɒmɪtə /

noun

1. a sensitive instrument for measuring radiant energy by the increase in the resistance of an electrical conductor

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Other Word Forms

• bolometry
  noun
• bolometric
  adjective
• bolometrically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of bolometer

1880–85; < Greek bol ( ḗ ) ray + -o- + -meter

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bolometer

Since a bolometer measures power, or photon number, it is not bound to add quantum noise stemming from the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in the way that parametric amplifiers are.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2024

For example, we can swap the bolometer material from metal to graphene, which has a lower heat capacity and can detect very small changes in its energy quickly.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2024

He will take daily readings from a bolometer capable of registering to a millionth of a degree the sun's radiation.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last fortnight Dr. Donald H. Andrews of Johns Hopkins University described a bolometer to top them all.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here, at an elevation of 14,887 feet, in the driest and purest air, perhaps, in the world, atmospheric absorptive inroads become less sensible, and the indications of the bolometer, consequently, surer and stronger.

From A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century Fourth Edition by Agnes M. (Agnes Mary) Clerke

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