bolometer

[ boh-lom-i-ter, buh- ]

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.

bolometer

/ bəʊˈlɒmɪtə; ˌbəʊləˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• boˈlometry, noun
• ˌboloˈmetrically, adverb
• bolometric, adjective

Other Words From

• bo·lo·met·ric [boh-l, uh, -, me, -trik], adjective
• bolo·metri·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolometer¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolometer¹

C19: from bol- , from Greek bolē ray of light, stroke, from ballein to throw + -meter

Example Sentences

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

Radiation-detectors known as bolometers are vital instruments in many fields of science.

From Nature

Normally, the South Pole Telescope’s 10-meter dish funnels extremely faint radiation from the cosmic microwave background into a camera called a bolometer.

From Salon

Herschel used special light detectors in its instruments known as bolometers.

From BBC

They employed an aperture in the side of an enclosure at uniform temperature as the source of radiation, and compared the intensities at different temperatures by means of a bolometer.

From Project Gutenberg