title: Revised equivalent temperature formula.
abstract: To save having to repeat computations of radiances of several thermal sources with different temperatures that are radiating simultaneously or, alternatively, to compute the total radiance of a single source composed of several patches with different areas and temperatures, a concept of area-weighted temperature has been defined and used [U.S. Army Electronics Command Rep. 7043 (U.S. Army Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., 1975); Opt. Eng. 15, 525-530 (1976)]. This equivalent temperature was said to be substituted in Planck function to obtain the total spectral radiance. Theoretical and computational examinations of the concept of area-averaged temperature reveal the need for its revision. To keep the advantage of a short-cut computation of the total radiance in the above-mentioned cases, a revised formula for the equivalent temperature is suggested.
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Sar-Ei