A fully lithographed voltage-biased superconducting spiderweb bolometer

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1999 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.123393· OSTI ID:304224

Gildemeister, J M; Lee, A T; Richards, P L ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7300 (United States)

We describe the fabrication and characterization of superconducting transition-edge bolometers for astrophysical applications at far-infrared and mm wavelengths. The sensor is voltage biased and the current is measured with a superconducting quantum interference ammeter. Strong negative electrothermal feedback keeps the sensor temperature nearly constant, reduces the response time significantly, and improves linearity. It also makes the responsivity relatively insensitive to changes in optical background loading and refrigerator temperature. The bolometers are made using standard microlithographic techniques suitable for fabrication of large scale arrays. Detailed measurements of optical response are presented for a range of bias conditions and are compared with theory. Measured noise spectra are shown and a model for the noise is presented. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 304224
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 74, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
BOLOMETERS
FABRICATION
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
ASTROPHYSICS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
NOISE
SILICON NITRIDES