Superconducting bolometers: high-Tc and low-Tc

Paul L. Richards

doi:10.1117/12.45590

1 July 1991 Superconducting bolometers: high-Tc and low-Tc

Paul L. Richards

Proceedings Volume 1477, Superconductivity Applications for Infrared and Microwave Devices II; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45590
Event: Orlando '91, 1991, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

A description is given of recent work at Berkeley on superconducting detectors and mixers for infrared and millimeter wavelengths. The first report is a review article which summarizes the status of development of superconducting components for infrared and millimeter wave receivers. Next, a report is given on measurements and theoretical modeling of the absorptivity (surface resistance) of high quality epitaxial films of the high-Tc superconductor YBCO from 750 GHz to 21 THz. The next report describes measurements of the thermal boundary resistance between YBCO films and various substrates. This resistance is much larger than expected from the acoustic impedance mismatch model and gives a thermal time constant in the nanosecond range for typical YBCO films. Reports are also included on the design and experimental performance of two different types of high-Tc bolometric detectors. One is a conventional bolometer with a gold-black absorber. The other is an antenna coupled microbolometer. The properties of a low-Tc microbolometer are also described. The last reports describe accurate measurements and also theoretical modeling of an SIS quasi-particle waveguide mixer for W-band which uses very high quality Ta junctions. The best mixer noise is only 1.3 times the quantum limit. Both the mixer gain and the noise are in quantitative agreement with the quantum theory.

Citation Download Citation

Paul L. Richards "Superconducting bolometers: high-Tc and low-Tc", Proc. SPIE 1477, Superconductivity Applications for Infrared and Microwave Devices II, (1 July 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45590

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