Glossary of Thermography Terms

Absolute zero - The temperature that is zero on the Kelvin temperature scale. The
temperature at which no molecular motion takes place in a material.

Absorbtivity, α (absorptance) - The proportion (as a fraction of 1) of the radiant energy

impinging on a material's surface that is absorbed into the material. For a
blackbody, this is unity (1.0). Technically, absorbtivity is the internal absorptance
per unit path length. In thermography, the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Accuracy (of measurement) - The maximum deviation, expressed in % of scale or reading

(depending on measurement range and instrument dynamics) or in degrees Celsius,
that the reading of an instrument will deviate from a correct standard reference.

Ambient operating range - Range of ambient temperatures over which an instrument is

designed to operate within published performance specifications.

Ambient temperature – See Reflected apparent temperature.

Ambient temperature compensation – See Reflected apparent temperature

compensation.

Anomaly - Any irregularity, such as a thermal anomaly on an otherwise isothermal surface.

Any indication that deviates from what is expected.

Apparent temperature - The target surface temperature indicated by an infrared point

sensor, line scanner or imager without compensation for measurement (object)
parameters.

Artefact - A product of artificial character due to extraneous agency; an error caused by an

uncompensated anomaly. In thermography, an emissivity artefact simulates a
change in surface temperature but is not a real change. A hot solar reflection or a
cold reflection due to narcissus would be examples of artefacts.

Atmospheric temperature – The temperature of the atmosphere between the camera and
the object.

Atmospheric windows (infrared) - The spectral intervals within the infrared spectrum in
which the atmosphere transmits radiant energy well (atmospheric absorption is a
minimum). These are roughly defined as 2-5 µm and 8-14 µm.

Blackbody, blackbody radiator – A blackbody absorbs all incident radiation. From

Kirchhoff’s law it follows that a blackbody is also a perfect radiator. A perfect
radiator radiates the maximum number of photons in a unit time from a unit area in
a specified spectral interval into a hemisphere that any body in thermodynamic
equilibrium at the same temperature can radiate. In Thermography, a calibration
reference radiator is referred to as a "Blackbody radiator", although it is a practical,
not theoretical device.

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Blackbody curves - Plots of radiant power spectral exitance vs. wavelength (W/m2/µm) for
various temperatures according to the Planck equation. These curves show the
maximum amount of energy at any given wavelength that can be radiated by an
object due solely to its temperature. Also called Planck curves.

Bolometer, infrared (micro-bolometer) - A type of thermal infrared detector commonly

used in spot pyrometers. The micro-bolometer is used in uncooled imaging
radiometers;

Calibration - Checking and/or adjusting an instrument such that its readings agree with a
standard. Calibration removes instrument systematic error.

Calibration source, infrared - A blackbody radiator of known temperature and effective

emissivity, used as a calibration reference.

Capacitance, thermal - This term is used to describe heat capacity in terms of an electrical
analog, where loss of heat is analogous to loss of charge on a capacitor. Structures
with high thermal capacitance lose heat more slowly than structures with low
thermal capacitance.

Capacity, heat - The heat capacity of a material or structure describes its ability to store
heat. It is the product of the specific heat (cp) and the density (ρ) of the material.
This means that denser materials generally will have higher heat capacities than
porous materials. Also called thermal mass.

Celsius (Centigrade) - A temperature scale, formed by the Swedish physicist Anders

Celsius, which is based on 0 °C as the freezing point of water and 100 °C as the
boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure; a relative scale related to
the Kelvin scale [0 °C = 273.15 K. 1 C° (∆T) = 1 K (∆T)]

Colour - A term sometimes used to define wavelength or spectral interval, as in two-colour

radiometry (meaning a method that measures in two spectral intervals); also used
conventionally (visual colour) as a means of displaying a thermal image, as in
colour thermogram.

Coloured body - See non-greybody.

Conductance, thermal - A measure of the ability of a material of defined thickness and

cross-sectional area to conduct heat. Related to the material property, thermal
conductivity. The inverse of thermal resistance (C=1/R).

Conduction, thermal - The only mode of heat flow in solids but can also take place in
liquids and gases. It occurs as the result of atomic vibrations (in solids) and
molecular collisions (in liquids and gases) whereby energy is transferred from
locations of higher temperature to locations of lower temperature.

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Conductivity, thermal, (κ) - A material property defining the relative capability to carry
heat by conduction in a static temperature gradient. Conductivity varies slightly
with temperature in solids and liquids and with temperature and pressure in gases. It
is high for metals (copper has a κ of 380 W/m/°C) and low for porous materials
(concrete has a κ of 1.0) and gases.

Convection - The form of heat transfer that takes place in a moving medium and is almost
always associated with transfer between a solid (surface) and a moving fluid (such
as air), whereby energy is transferred from sites of higher temperature to sites of
lower temperature.

Delta T - the temperature difference between two targets or locations. Usually of

comparable targets under comparable conditions.

Detector, infrared - A transducer element that converts incoming radiant energy

impinging on its sensitive surface into an electrical signal.

Diffuse reflector - A surface that reflects a portion of the incident radiation in such a
manner that the reflected radiation is equal in all directions. Also called a
Lambertian surface.

Diffusivity, thermal, (α) - The ratio of conductivity (k) to the product of density (ρ) and
specific heat (cp). α = k/ρcp [m2 sec-1]. The ability of a material to distribute thermal
energy after a change in heat input. A body with a high diffusivity will reach a
uniform temperature distribution faster than a body with lower diffusivity.

D* (detectivity) - Sensitivity figure of merit of an infrared detector—detectivity expressed

inversely so that higher D* indicate better performance; taken at specific test
conditions of chopping frequency and information bandwidth and displayed as a
function of spectral wavelength.

Display resolution, thermal - The precision with which an instrument displays its assigned
measurement parameter (temperature), usually expressed in degrees, tenths of
degrees, hundredths of degrees, etc.

Effusivity, thermal (e) - A measure of the resistance to temperature change of a material.

e is a relevant thermophysical parameter for surface heating or cooling processes as
well as in quenching processes. e = ( kρcp)½ ; [W m-2 K-1 s½]
where k = thermal conductivity, ρ = bulk density, cp = specific heat

Emissivity (ε) - The ratio of a target surface's radiance to that of a blackbody at the same
temperature, viewed from the same angle and over the same spectral interval; a
generic look-up value for a material. Values range from 0 to 1.0. Also called
emittance.

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EMI/RFI noise - Disturbances to electrical signals caused by electromagnetic interference

(EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI). In thermography, this may cause noise
patterns to appear on the display and in saved images.
Equalization, emissivity equalization – A method for determining the emissivity value in
each individual pixel of the image, much used for objects where the emissivity varies
from pixel to pixel, e.g. printed circuit boards. The found values are then used for
finding the correct temperatures in each point of the image.

Equalization box – A box, in which a test object can be heated up uniformly to a preset
temperature. Knowing this temperature it is possible to calculate the emissivity in
each pixel of the image of the object. Much used for accurate temperature
measurement on objects with great emissivity variations over the surface, e.g.
transistors, PCBs.

Exitance, radiant (also called radiosity) - Total infrared energy (radiant flux) leaving an
object surface. This is composed of radiated, reflected and transmitted components.
Only the radiated component is related to the surface temperature of the object.

Fahrenheit - A temperature scale based on 32°F as the freezing point of water, and 212 °F as
the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure; a relative scale related to
the Rankine scale [0 0F = 459.67 R; 1 F° (∆T) = 1 R (∆T)]. Used in the USA only.
Relation to the Kelvin scale is: 100K=180R

Field of view (FOV) - The angular subtense over which an instrument will integrate all
incoming radiant energy. In a radiation thermometer this defines the target spot size; in
a scanner or imager this defines the scan angle or picture size.

Fibre optic, infrared - A flexible fibre made of a material that transmits infrared energy, used
for making non-contact temperature measurements when there is not a direct line of
sight between the instrument and the target.

Filter, spectral - An optical element, usually transmissive, used to restrict the spectral band of
energy received by an instrument's detector.

Flame filter - A filter of a specific waveband used to minimize the effects of flame,
enabling the IR camera to “see through” the flame. The specific waveband is a
region where the contents of CO2 and H2O does not reduce transmittance. The
centre wavelength is 3.9µm, the bandwidth is less than 0.25µm.

Focal plane array (FPA) - A linear or two-dimensional matrix of detector elements, placed in
the focal plane of an instrument. In thermography, rectangular FPAs are used in
"staring" (non-scanning) infrared imagers. These are called IRFPA imagers.

Focal point - The point at which the instrument's optics image the infrared detector at the target
plane. In a radiation thermometer, this is where the spot size is the smallest.

Frame repetition rate - The image update frequency – how many times per second the
infrared imager delivers a complete IR picture.

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Full scale - The span between the minimum value and the maximum value that an instrument is
capable of measuring at a selected measurement range.

Greybody - A radiating object whose emissivity is a constant value less than unity (1.0).
over a specific spectral range.

Heat transfer - The movement of heat from one point to another by conduction,
convection and/or radiation.

Hertz (Hz) - A unit of measurement of signal frequency; 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second.

Herschel, Wilhelm – A German astronomer, physicist and musician, who was active in
Bath, UK, where he discovered infrared in the year1800.

Image, infrared - See Thermogram.

Imager, infrared - An infrared instrument that collects the infrared radiant energy from a
target surface and produces an (electronic) image of target exitance. This image can be
shown on a screen in monochrome (black and white) or colour, where the grey shades
or colour hues correspond respectively to target exitance. Usually does not have any
measurement capability.

Image processing, thermal - Analysis of thermal images, usually by computer; enhancing the
image to prepare it for computer or visual analysis. In the case of an infrared image or
thermogram, this could include temperature scaling, spot temperature measurements,
thermal profiles, image manipulation, subtraction and storage.

Imaging radiometer - An infrared thermal imager that provides quantitative thermal images.

Indium Antimonide (InSb) - A material from which fast, sensitive photo-detectors used in
infrared scanners and imagers are made. Such detectors require cooling while in
operation.

Infrared (IR) - The infrared spectrum is loosely defined as that portion of the electromagnetic
continuum extending from the red visible (0.75 µm) to about 1,000 µm.

Infrared radiation thermometer - An instrument that converts incoming infrared radiant

energy from a spot on a target surface to a measurement value that can be related to the
temperature of that spot.

Infrared thermal imager – See Imager, infrared

Instantaneous field of view (IFOV) - The angular subtense found by the ratio of the detector
dimension divided by the instrument focal length; the projection of the detector at the
target plane. In a radiation thermometer this defines the target spot size; in a line
scanner or imager it represents one resolution element in a scan line or a thermogram
and is one measure of spatial resolution. Also see SRF.

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Isotherm - A pattern superimposed on a thermogram or on a line scan that includes or

highlights all points that have the same apparent temperature or exitant radiation.

Kelvin - Absolute temperature scale related to the Celsius (or Centigrade) relative scale.
The Kelvin unit is equal to 1 C°; 0 Kelvin = -273.15 °C; the degree sign and the
word "degrees" are not used when expressing Kelvin temperatures.

Kirchhoff’s law – In thermal equilibrium, the absorbtivity of an object equals its

emissivity (α = ε).

Laser pyrometer - An infrared radiation thermometer that projects a laser beam to the
target, uses the reflected laser energy to compute target effective emissivity and
automatically computes target temperature (assuming that the target is a diffuse
reflector)—not to be confused with laser-aided aiming devices on some radiation
thermometers.

Latent heat- Also called “hidden heat” as heat is added or removed without changing the
temperature. The amount of heat required (or released) for a change of phase from
solid to liquid and liquid to gas (or vice versa). The latent heat of vaporisation is
the amount of heat required to change one gram of liquid to vapour without change
of temperature. The latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat to melt one gram of
solid to liquid with no temperature change.

Line scan rate - The number of target lines scanned by an infrared scanner or imager in
one second.

Line scanner, infrared - An instrument that scans an infrared field of view along a straight
line at the target plane in order to collect infrared radiant energy from a line on the
target surface, usually done by incorporating one scanning element within the
instrument. If the target (such as a sheet or web process) moves at a fixed rate
normal to the line scan direction, the result can be displayed as a thermogram.

Lock-in thermography - A term used to describe an active technique for infrared non-
destructive material testing, in which the sample is stimulated with periodically varying
(sinusoidally) radiant energy, thus generating heat waves through the material. The
resulting thermal images are processed to determine flaw depth and severity. The term
Lock-In comes from the fact that excitation, image acquisition and analysis are phase-
locked to each other.

Measurement spatial resolution - The smallest target spot size on which an infrared
imager can produce a measurement, expressed in terms of angular subtense (mrad
per side). The slit response function (SRF) test is used to measure M.

Medium, transmitting medium - The composition of the measurement path between a

target surface and the measuring instrument through which the radiant energy

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propagates. This can be vacuum, gaseous (such as air), solid, liquid or any
combination of these.

Mercury cadmium telluride MCT (HgCdTe) - A material used for fast, sensitive infrared
photo-detectors used in infrared sensors, scanners and imagers that requires cooled
operation.

Micron (micrometer) (µ or, µm) - One millionth of a meter; a unit used to express
wavelength in the infrared.

Milliradian (mrad) - One thousandth of a radian (1 radian = 180/π); a unit used to express
instrument angular field of view; an angle whose tangent is equal to 0.001; 1 mrad =
0.05729578°)

Minimum resolvable temperature (difference), MRT(D) - Thermal resolution; thermal

sensitivity - the smallest temperature difference that an instrument can clearly
distinguish out of the noise, taking into account target size and characteristics of the
display and the subjective interpretation of the operator. The limit of MRTD is
MDTD (minimum detectable temperature difference). MDTD is the MRTD of an
extended source target, that is, a target large enough to be fully resolved by the
instrument.

Modulation - In general, the changes in one wave train caused by another; in thermal
scanning and imaging, image luminant contrast; (Lmax - Lmin)/(Lmax + Lmin).

Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) - A measure of the ability of an imaging system to

reproduce the image of a target. A formalised procedure is used to measure MTF. It
assesses the spatial frequency resolution of a scanning or imaging system as a
function of distance to the target.

Noise equivalent temperature (difference), NET(D) - The temperature difference that is

just equal to the rms noise signal; a measure of thermal resolution; (thermal
sensitivity), but not taking into account target size, characteristics of the display and
the subjective interpretation of the operator.

NIST, NIST traceability - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly
NBS). Traceability to NIST is a means of ensuring that reference standards remain
valid and their calibration remains current.

Non-greybody – An object whose emissivity varies with wavelength over the wavelength
interval of interest. A radiating object that does not have a spectral radiation distribution
similar to a blackbody and can be partly transparent to infrared (transmits infrared
energy at certain wavelengths); also called a "coloured body" or "real body". Glass and
plastic films are examples of non-greybodies. An object can be a greybody over one
wavelength interval and a non-greybody over another.

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Objective, objective lens - The primary lens of an optical system, On an infrared instrument,
usually the interchangeable lens that defines the total field of view.

Opaque- Impervious to radiant energy. In thermography, an opaque material is one that does
not transmit thermal infrared energy, (τ = 0).

Optical element, infrared - Any element that collects, transmits, restricts or reflects infrared
energy as part of an infrared sensing or imaging instrument.

Oversampling – Collecting samples at a rate higher than the Nyquist critical frequency, fc =
1/(2∆), where ∆ is the sampling interval. Applies to both time and spatial domains.

Peak- hold - A feature of an instrument whereby an output signal is maintained at the peak
instantaneous measurement for a specified duration.

Photo-detector (photon detector) - A type of infrared detector that has fast response, (on the
order of microseconds), limited spectral response and usually requires cooled operation;
photo-detectors are used in infrared radiation thermometers, scanners and imagers.

Pixel – Abbreviation for picture element. In infrared technology a pixel is a focal plane
array element, for scanning systems it is defined by the SRF function or rather
associated with a sample, for spot radiometers by FOV.

Planck, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig - German physicist who incorporated quantum physics
into the blackbody spectral radiance equation, giving rise to blackbody curves.

Pyroelectric detector - A type of thermal infrared detector that acts as a current source with its
output proportional to the rate of change of its temperature.

Pyroelectric vidicon (PEV), also called pyrovidicon - A video camera tube with its receiving
element fabricated of pyroelectric material and sensitive to wavelengths from about 2 to
20 µm; used in infrared thermal viewers.

Pyrometer - Any instrument used for temperature measurement. A radiation or brightness

pyrometer measures visible energy and relates it to brightness or colour temperature.
An infrared pyrometer measures infrared radiation and relates it to target surface
temperature.

Qualitative measurement - the process of obtaining and interpreting thermal images based
on thermal contrast in order to identify areas that correlate to construction or sub-
surface anomalies; the purpose is more to determine where a temperature difference
exists than to obtain a number for the temperature difference or the actual
temperature.

Quantitative measurement - the process of obtaining thermal images with correct

temperature readings. Especially useful in situations when the exact temperature or

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temperature difference of the target determines whether it falls in or out of a

determined criteria or range of acceptability.

Radian – An angular measurement equal to the ratio of the arc length of a circle to its radius.
The circumference of a circle is 2π times the radius. Thus π radians = 180 degrees, and
1 radian = 57.29578 degrees.

Radiation, thermal - The mode of heat flow that occurs by emission and absorption of
electromagnetic radiation, propagating at the speed of light. Unlike conductive and
convective heat flow, it is capable of propagating across a vacuum. The form of heat
transfer that allows infrared thermography to work since infrared energy travels
between the target and the detector by radiation.

Radiosity - The radiance from a target surface due to emission, reflection and transmission that
is sensed by the IR instrument. See also exitance, thermal.

Rankine - Absolute temperature scale related to the Fahrenheit relative scale. The Rankine unit
is equal to 1 F°; 0 Rankine = -459.67 °F; the degree sign and the word "degrees" is not
used in expressing Rankine temperatures. It is a non-metric scale, which is used
exclusively in the USA.

Ratio pyrometer, also called two-colour pyrometer - An infrared thermometer that uses the
ratio of incoming infrared radiant energy at two narrowly separated wavelengths to
determine a target's temperature independent of target emittance; this assumes
"greybody" conditions and is normally limited to relatively hot targets (above about 150
°C). The technique is built upon quite strong simplifications and is reasonably correct
only at higher temperatures.

Reference junction - In a thermocouple, the junction of the dissimilar metals that is not the
measurement junction. This is normally maintained at a constant reference temperature.

Reflected apparent temperature – The apparent temperature of the radiant energy

impinging on an object that is reflected off the object and enters the instrument.
Originates from the scene behind and surrounding the instrument, as viewed from
the target. The reflection of this background appears in the image and affects
temperature measurements.

Reflected apparent temperature compensation - Correction built into an instrument to

provide automatic compensation in the measurement for the influence of the
reflected apparent temperature.

Reflectivity, (reflectance) (ρ) - The ratio of the total energy reflected from a surface to total
incidence on that surface; ρ = 1 - ε - τ); for a perfect mirror this approaches 1.0; for a
blackbody the reflectivity is 0. Technically, reflectivity is the ratio of the intensity of
the reflected radiation to the total radiation and reflectance is the ratio of the reflected
flux to the incident flux. In thermography, the two terms are often used
interchangeably.

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Relative humidity - The ratio (in per cent) of the water vapour content in the air to the
maximum content possible at that temperature and pressure.

Repeatability - The capability of an instrument to exactly repeat a reading on an unvarying

target over a short or long-term time interval. For thermal measurements, expressed in
+degrees or a percentage of full scale.

Resistance, thermal (R) – A measure of a material's resistance to the flow of thermal energy in
a fabricated condition, inversely proportional to its thermal conductance, R=1/C. For
one-dimensional conductive heat flow, the thermal resistance is the thermal resistivity
times the thickness divided by the cross-sectional area normal to the heat flow;
(R=rL/A). Note also that thermal resistance is sometimes defined as the resistance per
unit thickness.

Resistivity, thermal - A material property that defines its resistance to the flow of thermal
energy, inversely proportional to its thermal conductivity, k. (1/r = k)

Resolution - Clarity or fineness of detail; used to denote the total number or pixels in a
displayed image; a high-resolution camera can render fine details with greater
sharpness than a low-resolution system.

Response time - The time it takes for an instrument output signal or display to respond to a
temperature step change at the target; expressed in seconds.

Resistance temperature device (RTD) - a sensor that measures temperature by a change in

resistance of the sensor as a function of temperature.

Sample and hold - A feature of an instrument whereby an output signal is maintained at an

instantaneous measurement value for a specified duration after a trigger or until an
external reset is applied.

Scan angle - For a line scanner, the total angular scan possible at the target plane, typically 90°.

Scan position accuracy - For a line scanner, the precision with which instantaneous position
along the scan line can be set or measured.

Sector - For a line scanner, a portion of the total scan angle over which measurement is made at
the target plane.

Seebeck effect - The phenomenon that explains the operation of thermocouples; that in a closed
electrical circuit made up of two junctions of dissimilar metal conductors, a DC current
will flow as long as the two junctions are at different temperatures. The phenomenon is
reversible; if the temperatures at the two junctions are reversed the flow of current
reverses.

Sensitivity - See minimum resolvable temperature (difference), MRT(D).

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Setpoint - Any temperature setting at which an activating signal or closure can be preset so
that, when the measured temperature reaches the setpoint, a control signal, pulse or
relay closure is generated.

Signal processing - Manipulation of temperature signal or image data for purposes of

enhancing or controlling a process. Examples for infrared radiation thermometers are
peak hold, valley hold, sample hold and averaging. Examples for scanners and imagers
are usually referred to as "image processing" and include e.g. isotherm enhancement,
image averaging, alignment, image subtraction and image filtering.

Slit response function (SRF) - A measure of the measurement spatial resolution of an infrared
scanner or imager. Typically plotted as per cent response vs. angular target subtense
(ratio of target slit width to target-to-camera distance).

Spatial resolution - The spot size in terms of working distance. In an infrared radiation
thermometer this is expressed in milliradians or as a ratio (D/d) of the target spot size
(containing 95% of the radiant energy, according to common usage) to the working
distance. In scanners and imagers it is most often expressed in milliradians.

Specific heat - the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a
material one degree; water has a specific heat of 1 J/kg degree C.

Spectral response - The spectral wavelength interval over which an instrument or sensor
responds to infrared radiant energy, expressed in micrometers (µm)—also, the relative
manner (spectral response curve) in which it responds over that interval.

Spectrum - (electromagnetic spectrum)- The entire range of wavelengths of

electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves
and including visible light and infrared radiation.

Specular reflector - A reflecting surface that reflects all incident radiant energy at an angle
complementary (equal around the normal) to the angle of incidence. A mirror is a
specular reflector.

Spot - The instantaneous size (diameter unless otherwise specified) of the area at the target
plane that is being measured by the instrument. In infrared thermometry, this is
specified by most manufacturers to contain 95% of the radiant energy of an infinitely
large target of the same temperature-and emissivity.

Spot radiometer - A non-imaging, non-contact device for measuring temperature.

Spot size ratio - The inverse of the measurement field of view. The practical measurement
resolution for a radiometer, which takes into account the optical, mechanical and
electrical functionality of a device. Relates the size of the target to the maximum
distance the viewer can be from the target to the minimum size of the target in order
to ensure accurate temperature readings,
(Spot size ratio)(Minimum target size) = Maximum viewing distance.

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Storage operating range - The temperature extremes over which an instrument can be stored
and, subsequently, operate within published performance specifications.

Subtense, angular - The angular diameter of an optical system or subsystem expressed in

angular degrees or milliradians. In thermography, the angle over which a sensing
instrument collects radiant energy.

Target - The object surface to be measured or imaged.

Temperature - A measure of the thermal energy contained by an object; the degree of hotness
or coldness of an object measurable by any of a number or relative scales; heat is
defined as thermal energy in transit, and flows from objects of higher temperature to
objects of lower temperature.

Temperature conversion - Converting from one temperature scale to another; the relationships
are: Celsius: 0 °C = 273.15 Kelvin;

Temperature measurement drift - A reading change (error), with time, of a target with
nonvarying temperature, which may be caused by a combination of ambient changes,
line voltage changes and instrument characteristics.

Temperature resolution - See minimum resolvable temperature (difference), MRT(D).

Thermal conductivity – See Conductivity, thermal.

Thermal detector, infrared - A type of infrared detector that changes electrical characteristics
as a function of temperature. Typically, thermal detectors have slow response, (on the
order of milliseconds) broad spectral response and usually operate at room temperature.
Thermal detectors are commonly used in infrared radiation thermometers and in some
imagers. See bolometers, microbolometers.

Thermal sensitivity - See minimum resolvable temperature (difference), MRT(D).

Thermal viewer - A nonmeasuring thermal imager that produces qualitative thermal images
related to thermal radiant distribution over the target surface.

Thermal wave imaging - A term used to describe an active technique for infrared non-
destructive material testing, in which the sample is stimulated with pulses of thermal
energy, and where the time-based returned thermal images are processed to determine
flaw depth and severity; also called "pulse-stimulated imaging."

Thermistor - A temperature detector, usually a semiconductor, whose resistivity decreases

predictably with increasing temperature.

Thermistor bolometer, infrared - A thermistor so configured as to collect radiant infrared

energy; a type of thermal infrared detector.

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Thermocouple - A device for measuring temperature based on the fact that opposite junctions
between certain dissimilar metals develop an electrical potential when placed at
different temperatures; typical thermocouple types are;

J iron/constantan
K chromel/alumel
T copper/constantan
E chromel/constantan
R platinum/platinum-30% rhodium
S platinum/platinum-10% rhodium
B platinum-6% rhodium/platinum-30% rhodium
G tungsten/tungsten-26% rhenium
C tungsten-5% rhenium/tungsten-26% rhenium
D tungsten-3% rhenium/tungsten-25% rhenium

Thermogram - A thermal map or image of a target where the grey tones or colour hues
correspond to the distribution of infrared thermal radiant energy over the surface of
the target (qualitative thermogram); when correctly processed and corrected, a
graphic representation of surface temperature distribution (quantitative
thermogram).

Thermograph - Another word used to describe an infrared thermal imager.

Thermometer - Any device used for measuring temperature.

Thermopile - A device constructed by the arrangement of thermocouples in series to add

the thermoelectric voltage. A radiation thermopile is a thermopile with junctions so
arranged as to collect infrared radiant energy from a target, a type of thermal
infrared detector.

Time constant - The time it takes for any sensing element to respond to 63.2% (1-1/e) of a
step change at the target being sensed. In infrared sensing and thermography, the
time constant of a detector is a limiting factor in instrument performance, as it
relates to response time.

Total field of view (TFOV) - In imagers, the total solid angle scanned, usually rectangular
in cross section; usually called FOV, field of view.

Transducer - Any device that can convert energy from one form to another. In
thermography, and infrared detector is a transducer that converts infrared radiant
energy to some useful electrical quantity.

Transfer calibration - A technique for correcting a temperature measurement or a

thermogram for various errors by placing a radiation reference standard adjacent to
the target.

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 Glossary of Thermography Terms

Transfer standard - A precision radiometric measurement instrument with e.g. NIST

traceable calibration used to calibrate radiation reference sources.

Transmissivity, (transmittance) (τ) - The proportion of infrared radiant energy impinging

on an object's surface, for any given spectral interval, that is transmitted through the
object. (τ =1 - ε - ρ) For a blackbody, transmissivity = 0. Transmissivity is the
internal transmittance per unit thickness of a nondiffusing material.

Two-colour pyrometer - See ratio pyrometer.

Unity - One (1.0).

Valley hold- A feature of an instrument whereby an output signal is maintained at the

lowest instantaneous measurement for a specified duration; opposite of peak-hold.

Working distance - The distance from the target to the instrument, usually to the primary
optic.

Zone – In line scanners, a scanned area created by the transverse linear motion of the
product or process under a measurement sector of the scanner.

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