Towards Replacing Resistance Thermometry with Photonic Thermometry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that silicon photonic crystal cavity thermometers can significantly improve temperature measurement accuracy, offering a promising alternative to traditional resistance thermometry by reducing costs and increasing stability.

Contribution

The study introduces silicon photonic crystal cavity thermometers capable of measuring temperature with uncertainties of 175 mK, showing rapid progress in replacing resistance thermometry.

Findings

Achieved 175 mK measurement uncertainty with silicon photonic sensors

Demonstrated a fourfold improvement over recent photonic thermometry methods

Identified ageing effects from packaging as the main uncertainty source

Abstract

Resistance thermometry provides a time-tested method for taking temperature measurements that has been painstakingly developed over the last century. However, fundamental limits to resistance-based approaches along with a desire to reduce the cost of sensor ownership and increase sensor stability has produced considerable interest in developing photonic temperature sensors. Here we demonstrate that silicon photonic crystal cavity-based thermometers can measure temperature with uncertainities of 175 mK (k = 1), where uncertainties are dominated by ageing effects originating from the hysteresis in the device packaging materials. Our results, a 4-fold improvement over recent developments, clearly demonstate the rapid progress of silicon photonic sensors in replacing legacy devices.