Radiance to Irradiance Conversion

1 Optronic Laboratories
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion

Training Level: Intermediate

Dr. Richard Young
Optronic Laboratories, Inc.
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
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Geometry
Source Detector
Let us start off with a source of radiance, e.g. a
sphere source, and a detector
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
3 Optronic Laboratories
Geometry
Source Detector
Each point on the detector is illuminated by
light within the solid angle (cone) to the source
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
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Geometry
Source Detector
A large distance between source and detector
is required for even illumination.
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
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Geometry
Source Detector
The solid angle is calculated by A/d when
d>>A
Area
=
A
Distance = d
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
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Geometry
Error in A/d for Calculation of steradians
0.001%
0.01%
0.1%
1.0%
10.0%
100.0%
1000.0%
10000.0%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Distance to 1 cm aperture [cm]
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[
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Although it is a simple
formula, it works well at
d>10 x source diameter
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
7 Optronic Laboratories
Geometry
Source Detector
If the source is uniform, then the light in the
solid angle to the source
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
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Geometry
Source Detector
is equal to the light in the same solid angle
from the source.
Radiance to Irradiance Conversion
9 Optronic Laboratories
Geometry
Source Detector
Irradiance from Radiance: E = L * A/d
Radiance from Irradiance: L = E * d/A
L [W/(cm sr)] E [W/(cm)] x sr