The photon detection process

A broad description is presented of optical and infrared detector technology. A classification and phenomenological descriptions of selected photon detection mechanisms are provided, taking into account photoconductivity, the photovoltaic effect, the photoemissive effect, the photoelectromagnetic effect, the Dember effect, the photon drag effect, the bolometer effect, the pyroelectric effect, the thermoelectric effect, the Nernst effect, optical heterodyne detection, parametric effects, and the Josephson junction photoeffect. Attention is also given to noise in radiation detectors, spectral response, responsivity, noise equivalent power, frequency response, the noise spectrum, signal fluctuation and background fluctuation limits, and the state-of-the-art of infrared and optical detectors.