Editing Beam splitter (section)

==Reflection beam splitters==
[[File:InfraTec Beamsplitter Prinzip.jpg|thumb|Principle drawing of a reflection beam splitter in a pyroelectric sensor (four optical channels)]]
Reflection beam splitters reflect parts of the incident radiation in different directions. These partial beams show exactly the same intensity. Typically, reflection beam splitters are made of metal and have a broadband spectral characteristic.

Due to their compact design, beam splitters of this type are particularly easy to install in [[infrared detector]]s.<ref>[https://www.infratec.eu/sensor-division/service-support/glossary/beam-splitters ''Beam Splitters''] on www.infratec.eu</ref> At this application, the radiation enters through the [[aperture]] opening of the detector and is split into several beams of equal intensity but different directions by internal highly reflective microstructures. Each beam hits a sensor element with an upstream optical filter. Particularly in [[Nondispersive infrared sensor|NDIR gas analysis]], this design enables measurement with only one beam with a minimal beam cross-section, which significantly increases the interference immunity of the measurement.