To detect a weak signal (e.g., a distant star or a biological fluorescence marker), you must modulate the source (chopping) or cool the detector to reduce thermal noise.
This book is copyrighted by Wiley (originally published as part of the Wiley Series in Pure and Applied Optics). While "orphan works" status does not apply here, the book is actively in print and available via academic databases like or Wiley Online Library . radiometry and the detection of optical radiation boyd pdf
A significant portion of Boyd’s work is dedicated to the statistical nature of detection. A robust feature must model noise sources to determine if a signal is detectable. To detect a weak signal (e