# Golay cell

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thumb|alt=Schematic of a Golay cell.|Schematic of a Golay cell<ref>D. Klocke, A. Schmitz, H. Soltner, H. Bousack and H. Schmitz, "Infrared receptors in pyrophilous ('fire loving') insects as model for new un-cooled infrared sensors," ''Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology'' '''2''', 186 (2011), {{doi|10.3762/bjnano.2.22}}</ref>

The '''Golay cell''' is a type of opto-acoustic detector mainly used for [infrared spectroscopy](/source/infrared_spectroscopy). It consists of a gas-filled enclosure with an [infrared](/source/infrared) absorbing material and a flexible [diaphragm](/source/Diaphragm_(mechanical_device)) or membrane. When infrared radiation is absorbed, it heats the gas, causing it to expand. The resulting increase in [pressure](/source/pressure) deforms the membrane. Light reflected off the membrane is detected by a [photodiode](/source/photodiode), and motion of the membrane produces a change in the signal on the photodiode. The concept was originally described in 1947 by [Marcel J. E. Golay](/source/Marcel_J._E._Golay),<ref>[M. J. E. Golay](/source/Marcel_J._E._Golay), "Theoretical consideration in heat and infra‐red detection, with particular reference to the pneumatic detector," ''Review of Scientific Instruments'' '''18''', 347 (1947), {{doi|10.1063/1.1740948}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title = Radiation detecting device|url = https://patents.google.com/patent/US2557096|date = Jun 19, 1951|access-date = 2016-01-30|first = Golay Marcel J.|last = E}}</ref> after whom it came to be named.

The Golay cell has high sensitivity and a flat response over a very broad range of frequencies. The response time is modest, of order 10 ms. The detector performance is degraded in the presence of mechanical vibrations.

==References==
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Category:Photodetectors
Category:Infrared spectroscopy

{{spectroscopy-stub}}{{Electronic components}}

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