The invention relates to a characteristic absorption spectrum radiation heat absorber, a Stirling engine and an operation method. By means of the radiation heat absorber, radiation energy can be fast absorbed by working medium gas in the Stirling engine, and when solar energy is insufficient, stable operation of the Stirling engine is ensured by adopting an auxiliary heating mode. A fast heat absorbing heater adopting characteristic absorption spectrum gas to absorb heat mainly comprises a heater base, an optical energy converting device, a heating tube, a combustion chamber and a heating tube valve. The optical energy converting device converts solar energy into radiation energy adjacent to a characteristic absorption peak of the working medium gas, and the working medium directly absorbs radiation energy stereoscopically. The radiation heat absorber is beneficial for enhancing radiation heat exchange at the hot end of the Stirling engine, efficiently using high-temperature energy of a focus sunlight center and reducing the dead volume of the hot end, solves the tube bursting problem of the Stirling heater, improves the engine efficiency, achieves photo-thermal complementary utilization and improves stability of the engine.