Open Access
Int. J. Metrol. Qual. Eng.
Volume 8, 2017
Article Number 2
Number of page(s) 7
Published online 01 February 2017

© S. Abbane et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2017

Licence Creative Commons

1 Introduction

On the basis of The mise en pratique for the definition of the kelvin (MeP-K) [13] and what have been shown by Yamada et al. in 1999 that is possible to use metal–carbon binary eutectic alloys as potential fixed points above the freezing point of copper (TCu = 1357.77 K) to determine the thermodynamic temperature [4,5]. This has been followed by the Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT) to develop and improve the thermal and radiometric performance of metal (carbide)–carbon (M(C)-C) fixed points [6,7]. The efficacy of this method is part of a study that was made as well in the context the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) joint project ‘Implementing the new kelvin’ (Ink) [8] was focused on preparing the temperature metrology community for a comprehensive and effective redefinition of the kelvin [9].

A second method is to use a filter radiometer with a known spectral response and defined measurement geometry can determine the thermodynamic temperature of blackbody sources [5,10].

The temperature references of the International Temperature Scale ITS-90 below the freezing point of copper (1357.77 K) are based on various fixed points (Cu, Au, Ag, Zn, Al, etc.). Above the copper reference point the optical pyrometry based on Planck's radiation law using monochromatic radiation is necessary [11].

The radiance is the selected reference parameter used to materialize the thermodynamic temperature unit within the range of high temperatures (1234.93–3000 K). In practice, the spectral radiance is used to express the radiance contained in an elementary wavelength window dλ including the wavelength λ. This radiance is expressed in W m−3 sr−1.

For the blackbody, the spectral radiance density within the range of λ and λ + λd is expressed in terms of Planck's radiation law connecting the temperature T and the wavelength λ of the emitted radiation. The Planck's law of radiation is used in the definition of the thermodynamic temperature unit [12].

The spectral radiance ratio of two blackbodies can be traced back to the temperature in the ITS 90 scale [11].

The spectral radiance density, in a given direction, at a given point of a surface, is directly defined by the spectral radiant flux transmitted by an elementary beam passing through the given point and propagating in the solid angle dΩ containing the given direction [13].

The blackbody temperature accuracy depends heavily on the flux measurement and dimensional quantities accuracies. For the flux measurements, we used silicon photodiodes. The determination of the dimensional values, with high accuracy, essentially depends on the quality of the bench set up materializing the solid angle and the emitting surface [14].

The materialization of the solid angle is done through the implementation of an optical system based on convergent lenses and diaphragms. This system has different reflections, absorptions and transmissions levels which are difficult to evaluate, so annexes benches are required.

As Planck's radiation law depends strongly on the monochromatic wavelength, we used a device based on double monochromator (DMS) incorporating a grating and a prism allowing respectively to disperse and to refine the selected wavelength. Despite the utilization of that device, the imperfect knowledge of the chosen wavelength and the use of the integrated optical introduce errors and uncertainties on the temperatures determination.

Consequently, the combination of the double monochromator and the optical system, together define the system responsivity “G” which involves the optical and dimensional effects. This system responsivity provides the correspondence between the flux received by the photodiode and the flux emitted by the source. Thus, the received flux would be the image of the emitted one via this system responsivity “G” characterizing the experimental bench. The determination of “G” is essential in order to determine the unknown temperature Tx of any blackbody furnace exposed to our system.

This paper describes the method used to determine the system responsivity “G” with the required accuracy and this within the spectral range from 800 nm to 900 nm and in the temperature range between 1200 K and 1570 K. The choice of these ranges is dictated by the silicon photodiode operating range. Therefore, the measuring range of temperature on one hand, covers the last three fixed points of the ITS 90 (Ag, Au and Cu) and in the other hand, is limited by the maximum threshold of our blackbody furnace CNHT.

Two methods are applicable for determining G, either through a calibrated fixed-point blackbody or by using a blackbody furnace whose temperatures are checked using a transfer pyrometer. In our case, we choose the last method to achieve our goal.

2 Experimental set up

The bench presented in Figure 1 is intended to calibrate optical pyrometers. It is composed mainly of a Lanthanum Chromite blackbody furnace CNHT [15] at high temperatures which is equipped with a variable temperature blackbody. The dynamic temperature of this blackbody covers 873.15–1773.15 K. The blackbody furnace provides a 7-mm diameter emission diaphragm and with a current regulated source with a stability of 10−5.

In all cases, the Lanthanum Chromite cavities requiring following re-verification on a standard blackbody fixed points in the entire spectral band established by the ITS 90 in the range from 600 nm to 1000 nm [12].

The cavity bottom of the furnace is imaged by the spectroradiometer which consisted of convergent lenses L1 and L2 having focal distances of 4 cm and 8 cm, respectively. By the help of these two lenses the cavity bottom of the furnace can be focused on the entrance slit of the double monochromator with a diameter about 25 mm.

The flux enters the double monochromator (DMS) through the rectangular inlet slit (slit 1) with a height of 2 cm. This double monochromator is composed by a grating 300 lines/mm blazed at 1000 nm and a silica's prism [16]. After undergoing some reflections by spherical mirrors S1, S2, S3 and S4 located in the two stages of the double monochromator (grating stage and prism stage), the diffracted light falls on the silicon detector active area placed directly behind the exit slit of the monochromator. The width of the batch of light falling on the silicon detector is 3 mm which is less than the photodiode active area dimension estimated about 10 mm allowing thus flux measurement.

The photodiode is used along with a current to voltage operational amplifier, which converts the light induced photocurrent to a potential difference measured across amplifier resistance. The voltage is then measured by a digital multimeter, a numerical code controls the grating and prism motors used to tune the wavelength of the blackbody source.

thumbnail Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of experimental bench.

3 Theory calculation

3.1 System responsivity “G” determination

The determination of the system responsivity “G” that characterizes the experimental bench is accomplished via the expression of Planck's radiation law that considers the energetic flux of the emitting surface, the sensor responsivity, the temperature TCNHT measured by a transfer pyrometer and the wavelength λ of the blackbody emitted radiation. The transfer pyrometer we used is a Heitronics KT 19 II type. This is an Infrared Radiation Pyrometer based on pyroelectric detector with a response spectral from 2 μm to 4.5 μm; its accuracy is about ±0.5 °C plus 0.7% of the temperature difference between the housing containing the measuring instruments and the object to be measured [17].

By applying Planck's radiation law for a blackbody, the total flux emitted over the hemisphere per unit area is the emittance. We generally consider dϕ the elementary radiant flux emitted by an area element dS in the various directions where it can radiate and we divide the flux by dS [14,18].

The total radiant emittance based on the elementary flux is defined as [14]: (1)

Furthermore, the spectral flux emitted according to the spectral radiant emittance is: (2)

The radiate power by the silicon detector is written: (3)

So (4)

Then (5)

Thus (6)

The combination between the two equations (3) and (5) gives: (7) (8)

G is the system responsivity of our experimental bench.


M0: total radiant emittance; C1 = 3.74 × 10−16 W m−3; C2 = 1.4388 × 10−12 m K; M0 = πL0 W m−3; : DMS transmission factor; : optical transmission factor; : system responsivity; Se: emitter surface; Sr: receiver surface; : spectral flux emitted; : radiate power; Sλ: photodiode spectral responsivity; V: voltage delivered by the photodiode; I: photocurrent; R: amplification resistance of the converter current/voltage device.

3.2 Temperature determination and measurement uncertainty

As we said from the beginning, the objective of our work is to determine the temperature of any blackbody with its uncertainty through the use of the system responsivity.

For a radiant blackbody with an unknown temperature Tx, placed at the entrance of given the optical bench, Through the use of Planck's radiation law Tx is expressed as follows: (9)

The parameters involved have been previously defined. The uncertainties propagation law associated to the temperature Tx gives the following relative uncertainty following: (10)

With: (11) (12) (13) (14)

3.3 Systematic effects: room temperature effect

Blackbody sources operated at high temperature emits considerable thermal load. It has been observed that when the blackbody operates the temperature range of interest (1223.15 K and 1423.15 K) temperature of the optical system, which composed from the two lenses, changes from 20 °C to 30 °C. This in turns would affect the spectroradiometer system, thus, its responsivity. In order for this effect to be evaluated, the transmittance of the two lenses has been measured at variable temperatures from 20 °C to 30 °C and the change of transmittance at different wavelengths has been evaluated. This has been carried out by using a quartz halogen lamp directly placed in front of the monochromator; however, the mirrors were placed behind the monochromator and just before the detection element.

Two spherical mirrors having a 99% reflectance, reflect the radiation delivered from the DMS, to the optical system. The transmission of the optical system essentially depends on the nature of the glasses, the wavelength λ and the ambient temperature Ta in which the system is arranged.

The detector used is a silicon photodiode. In our study, we are interested to the wavelengths effects between 650 nm and 900 nm on optical system transmission for the temperatures of 20 °C and 30 °C. The ambient temperature Ta is measured by a thermocouple k type placed close to the optical system.

The transmission factor τ for a given wavelength is defined as the ratio between the detector signal with the optical system and the total signal without the optical system

Figure 2 summarizes the experimental results obtained from the determination of the optical system transmission factor for both ambient temperatures 20 °C and 30 °C.

These values obtained of τ(λ,Ta) will be used to adjust the system responsivities “G” according to the ambient temperatures corresponding to blackbodies' temperatures.

thumbnail Fig. 2

Transmission factor of the optical system.

4 Results and discussion

4.1 Si-MMA detector spectral responsivity

The calibration of the (Si-MMA) detector used in our spectroradiometer, was done through the use of a standard trap detector calibrated traceable to the primary laboratory LNE − CNAM (France).

The estimated relative uncertainty of the absolute spectral responsivity determination is about 3 × 10−3 to a 1σ confidence level. This uncertainty takes into account the uncertainty of the standard Si-CNAM, The repeatability, the reproducibility of measurements, the current-voltage converter and the used voltmeter calibration.

Figure 3 shows the shape of the absolute spectral responsivity of the Si-MMA photodiode used in our bench.

In the range between 800 nm and 900 nm, the absolute spectral responsivity of the used silicon photodiode in our experimental bench is at its maximum value while keeping a linear variation and increases according to the wavelength and achieves the peak near 950 nm. To use the bench with the best signal stability, we will choose the range between 800 nm and 900 nm. This choice will therefore determine the range of our experimental bench.

thumbnail Fig. 3

Spectral responsivities of Si-MMA and Si-CNAM detectors.

4.2 The electric signal

The signal delivered by the Si–MMA detector is the response of the experimental bench for various temperatures ranging from 1223.15 K to 1573.15 K and in the wavelength range from 650 nm to 900 nm integrating all the parameters involved (Fig. 4).

We noticed that the shape of the Si-MMA detector responses according to the wavelength was similar to Planck's radiation law applied to the wavelength range from 650 nm to 900 nm. These responses are of a major importance in the determination of the unknown temperature Tx of any blackbody.

thumbnail Fig. 4

Electric responses of Si-MMA detector for different temperatures of the blackbody furnace CNHT.

4.3 System responsivity measuring, G (λ, TCNHT, Ta)

Having identified the responsivity of the system, as shown earlier, it has then been used to determine the temperature.

In our case, we consider for each wavelength, the average of eight (08) Gi values corresponding to eight (08) different temperatures from 1223.15 K to 1573.15 K.

Table 1 summarizes the values of for all the used wavelengths. For the uncertainty estimation we took the worst case and we estimated the uncertainty as the maximum deviation recorded for the values and for each wavelength.

Figure 5 shows the variation of the system responsivity “G” of the experimental bench depending on the wavelength, for various temperatures.

We noticed that in the range between 800 nm and 900 nm, the errors introduced by the system responsivity on the determination of the temperature Tx are less than the errors between 650 nm and 800 nm. This is due to the linear variation of the spectral responsivity of the silicon photodiode in this range.

This approach allows us to consider that the relative uncertainty associated to vary from 0.3% to 1.12%. These levels of uncertainty have a major importance in the uncertainties estimation of the blackbodies' unknown temperatures Tx.

Table 1

System responsivity average for each wavelength.

thumbnail Fig. 5

System responsivities for each temperature.

5 Discussion

Using the equations (9) and (10) and considering the values (Tab. 1) and their corresponding uncertainties, we are hence able to determine any temperature Tx between 1223.15 K and 1573.15 K and estimate their associated uncertainty.

Table 2 gives practical examples of specific temperatures and their uncertainties for three selected wavelengths.

For a given wavelength, the uncertainty of the temperature increases according to the temperature. Also for a given temperature, the uncertainty increases according to the wavelength. This is predictable because in the expression of the uncertainty associated to Tx (Eq. (10)), the only predominant uncertainties are those related to the average of the system responsivities and the wavelength.

For our pyrometer bench, we should select the wavelength of 800 nm to obtain the lowest uncertainty of the temperature to be determined.

Table 2

Uncertainties associated to different temperatures for three wavelengths selected.

6 Conclusion

This paper presents a method that has been recently adopted in our laboratory to determine the temperatures of blackbody sources in the range of 1200–1570 K. The system is made of a Double Monochromator System (DMS) based on a grating and a prism as dispersion elements. The detection element is a silicon photodiode that is calibrated traceable to the LNE-CNAM's trap detector. In between the blackbody source and the DMS is placed the optical system consists of two convergent lenses. The crucial parameter in this study is the system responsivity “G” that reflects the influence of the instrument in the temperature determination.

The optical transmission factor combined with the DMS transmission factor and the spectral sensitivity of the detector allowed us to determine the system responsivity “G” of the experimental bench. The use of the DMS with a grating and a prism placed in a small area of 50 cm × 30 cm compared to other comparators used by many laboratories around the world allows our system to have a fast operational readiness, high effectiveness and easy handling. Furthermore, we tried to define the responsivity of our system to stand out from the other works which they use the spectral radiance ratio of two blackbodies to trace back to the temperature.

In this work, we defined the experimental model of the system responsivity “G” to be used for the temperature range between 1200 K and 1570 K and from 800 nm to 900 nm. This model helps us to determine the temperature Tx of any blackbody in this range.

The performance of the experimental bench has been thoroughly investigated considering all sources of relative uncertainty involved of the system responsivity “G” which varied from 0.3% to 1.12%. This in turn resulted in a corresponding uncertainty in temperature of about 2.2 K and 4.5 K (k = 1) from 800 nm to 900 nm.


This research and innovation are carried out under the MOBIDOC device funded by the European Union under the PASRI program administered by the ANPR.

The authors wish to thank the National Agency of Metrology Tunisia (ANM) for supporting this research.


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Cite this article as: Saif Abbane, Zahra Ben Achour, Oualid Touayar, Study of the system responsivity to measure the blackbody's temperature by optical pyrometry from 1200 K to 1570 K, Int. J. Metrol. Qual. Eng. 8, 2 (2017)

All Tables

Table 1

System responsivity average for each wavelength.

Table 2

Uncertainties associated to different temperatures for three wavelengths selected.

All Figures

thumbnail Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of experimental bench.

In the text
thumbnail Fig. 2

Transmission factor of the optical system.

In the text
thumbnail Fig. 3

Spectral responsivities of Si-MMA and Si-CNAM detectors.

In the text
thumbnail Fig. 4


In the text
thumbnail Fig. 5

System responsivities for each temperature.

In the text



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