A detector constructed from a material having a large temperature coefficient of resistance. Absorption of radiation gives rise to a change in resistance. A bolometer is named according to its active component, e.g. thermistor bolometer, semiconductor bolometer, superconductor bolometer.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1745. 'Nomenclature, symbols, units and their usage in spectrochemical analysis-XI. Detection of radiation (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)' on page 1752 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199567101745)