A DC-coupled, high sensitivity bolometric detector system for the infrared telescope in space

Author

Devlin, M. ; Lange, A.E. ; Wilbanks, T. ; Sato, S.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., California Univ., Berkeley, CA, USA

Volume

40

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

162

Lastpage

165

Abstract

The performance of an AC bridge readout system that has been developed for use on the infrared telescope in space is described. The AC bridge readout provides excellent DC stability, allowing observing strategies well suited to spaceborne observations. The ability to modulate the optical signal slowly allows the use of highly sensitive, long time-constant bolometers. At 300 mK, the bolometers have an electrical noise equivalent power of 3×10^-17 W/√Hz. The total noise of the differential signal, including amplifier noise, is less than 8×10^-17 W/√Hz at frequencies as low as 35 mHz

Keywords

astronomical instruments; astronomical telescopes; bolometers; bridge instruments; infrared astronomy; infrared detectors; 300 mK; 35 mHz; AC bridge readout system; DC-coupled; electrical noise equivalent power; high sensitivity bolometric detector; infrared telescope; long time-constant bolometers; Bolometers; Bridges; Detectors; Differential amplifiers; Optical modulation; Optical noise; Optical sensors; Stability; Stimulated emission; Telescopes;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.212334

Filename

212334