Noise-equivalent temperature

Noise-equivalent temperature (NET) is a measure used in the field of radiometry and spectroscopy to quantify the sensitivity of a detector or an instrument that measures electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the infrared and microwave regions. It describes the amount of thermal noise generated by the detector that would correspond to a given signal level. In essence, the NET indicates the temperature of a black body that would produce the same amount of thermal noise as the actual electronic noise present in the detector.