Trap detectors and their properties

The author describes a new solid state detector which fulfils all the requirements of the ideal detector for optical radiation measurements. This `trap´ detector is shown to be spatially uniform, linear, stable and with a predictable relative spectral response so that it can be used to realise a relative spectral response scale with an uncertainty of less than 0.05%. The detector is also shown to be capable of disseminating an absolute spectral responsivity scale with an uncertainty of less than 0.02% at specific laser wavelengths and independently realising such a scale with an uncertainty of better than 0.05%