Sub-picowatt precision radiometry using superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers

Author

Chervenak, J.A. ; Grossman, E.N. ; Reintsema, C.D. ; Irwin, K.D. ; Moseley, S.H. ; Allen, C.A.

Author_Institution

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Volume

11

Issue

1

fYear

2001

fDate

3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

593

Lastpage

596

Abstract

We describe a cryogenic radiometric calibration system suitable for high sensitivity, low background power bolometers. The system uses a variable temperature blackbody source capable of temperatures of 4 to 20 K, whose output covers the sub-millimeter wavelength regime. The detector is an eight-channel, filled-focal-plane array of superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers. The system is designed to test components of the optical system such as polarizers, filters and stray light suppressors as well as the performance of the detector array elements. The bolometer response to incident submillimeter radiation is measured and compared to the calculated output of the source seen by the bolometer

Keywords

bolometers; radiometry; superconducting devices; detector array elements; filled-focal-plane array; filters; high sensitivity low background power bolometers; incident submillimeter radiation; polarizers; stray light suppressors; sub-millimeter wavelength regime; sub-picowatt precision radiometry; superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers; variable temperature blackbody source; Bolometers; Calibration; Cryogenics; Detectors; Optical arrays; Optical filters; Radiometry; Sensor arrays; Superconducting filters; Temperature sensors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.919415

Filename

919415