Germanium bolometer detector of millimeter wavelength thermal energy
Germanium bolometer detector of millimeter wavelength thermal energy
BOLOMETER↗
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HFI Bolometer Detectors Programmatic CDR
Programmatic Critical Design Review (CDR) of the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) Bolometer Detector on the Planck Surveyor is presented. The topics include: 1) Scientific Requirements and Goals; 2) Silicon Nitride Micromesh 'Spider-Web' Bolometers; 3) Sub-Orbital Heritage: BOOMERANG; 4) Noise stability demonstrated in BOOMERANG; 5) Instrument Partners; 6) Bolometer Environment on Planck/HFI; 7) Bolometer Modules; and 8) Mechanical Interface. Also included are the status of the receivables and delivery plans with Europe. This paper is presented in viewgraph form.
Lange, Andrew E.↗
Mechanical Design and Development of TES Bolometer Detector Arrays for the Advanced ACTPol Experiment
The next generation Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) experiment is currently underway and will consist of four Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer arrays, with three operating together, totaling 5800 detectors on the sky. Building on experience gained with the ACTPol detector arrays, AdvACT will utilize various new technologies, including 150 mm detector wafers equipped with multichroic pixels, allowing for a more densely packed focal plane. Each set of detectors includes a feedhorn array of stacked silicon wafers which form a spline pro le leading to each pixel. This is then followed by a waveguide interface plate, detector wafer, back short cavity plate, and backshort cap. Each array is housed in a custom designed structure manufactured from high purity copper and then gold plated. In addition to the detector array assembly, the array package also encloses cryogenic readout electronics. We present the full mechanical design of the AdvACT high frequency (HF) detector array package along with a detailed look at the detector array stack assemblies. This experiment will also make use of extensive hardware and software previously developed for ACT, which will be modi ed to incorporate the new AdvACT instruments. Therefore, we discuss the integration of all AdvACT arrays with pre-existing ACTPol infrastructure.
Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT)↗
A 90GHz Bolometer Camera Detector System for the Green Bank Telescope
We describe a close-packed, two-dimensional imaging detector system for operation at 90GHz (3.3mm) for the 100 m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) This system will provide high sensitivity (<1mjy in 1s rapid imaging (15'x15' to 250 microJy in 1 hr) at the world's largest steerable aperture. The heart of this camera is an 8x8 close packed, Nyquist-sampled array of superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers. We have designed and are producing a functional superconducting bolometer array system using a monolithic planar architecture and high-speed multiplexed readout electronics. With an NEP of approx. 2.10(exp 17) W/square root Hz, the TES bolometers will provide fast linear sensitive response for high performance imaging. The detectors are read out by and 8x8 time domain SQUID multiplexer. A digital/analog electronics system has been designed to enable read out by SQUID multiplexers. First light for this instrument on the GBT is expected within a year.
Benford, Dominic J.↗
A 90GHz Bolometer Camera Detector System for the Green
We describe a close-packed, two-dimensional imaging detector system for operation at 90GHz (3.3 mm) for the 100m Green Bank Telescope (GBT). This system will provide high sensitivity (less than 1mJy in 1s) rapid imaging (15'x15' to 150 micron Jy in 1 hr) at the world's largest steerable aperture. The heart of this camera is an 8x8 close-packed, Nyquist-sampled array of superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers. We have designed and are producing a functional superconducting bolometer array system using a monolithic planar architecture and high-speed multiplexed readout electronics. With an NEP of approximately 2 x 10(exp -17) W/square root of Hz, the TES bolometers will provide fast, linear, sensitive response for high performance imaging. The detectors are read out by an 8x8 time domain SQUID multiplexer. A digital/analog electronics system has been designed to enable read out by SQUID multiplexers. First light for this instrument on the GBT is expected within a year.
Benford, Dominic J.↗
Mechanical Design of a 4-Stage ADR for the PIPER mission
The four 1,280 bolometer detector arrays that will fly on the balloon borne PIPER mission will be cooled by a 4-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). Two of the three mechanically independent ADR assemblies provide thermal isolation to their salt pills through Kevlar suspensions while the other provides thermal isolation to its salt pill through the use of bellows and Vespel material. The ADR integrates with the detector arrays and it sits in a large bucket Dewar containing superfluid liquid helium. This paper will describe the complex mechanical design of the PIPER ADR, and summarize the mechanical analysis done to validate the design.The four 1,280 bolometer detector arrays that will fly on the balloon borne PIPER mission will be cooled by a 4-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). Two of the three mechanically independent ADR assemblies provide thermal isolation to their salt pills through Kevlar suspensions while the other provides thermal isolation to its salt pill through the use of bellows and Vespel material. The ADR integrates with the detector arrays and it sits in a large bucket Dewar containing superfluid liquid helium. This paper will describe the complex mechanical design of the PIPER ADR, and summarize the mechanical analysis done to validate the design.
Cryogenics↗
BIG MAC: A bolometer array for mid-infrared astronomy, Center Director's Discretionary Fund
The infrared array referred to as Big Mac (for Marshall Array Camera), was designed for ground based astronomical observations in the wavelength range 5 to 35 microns. It contains 20 discrete gallium-doped germanium bolometer detectors at a temperature of 1.4K. Each bolometer is irradiated by a square field mirror constituting a single pixel of the array. The mirrors are arranged contiguously in four columns and five rows, thus defining the array configuration. Big Mac utilized cold reimaging optics and an up looking dewar. The total Big Mac system also contains a telescope interface tube for mounting the dewar and a computer for data acquisition and processing. Initial astronomical observations at a major infrared observatory indicate that Big Mac performance is excellent, having achieved the design specifications and making this instrument an outstanding tool for astrophysics.
Telesco, C. M.↗
High- and Mid-temperature Superconducting Sensors for Far IR/Sub-mm Applications in Space
In this review paper an overview of the potential applications of high Tc (approx. 90 K) superconductors (HTS) and mid-Tc (approx. 39 K) superconductors (MTS) thin films in far IR/Sub-mm thermal detectors is presented. HTSs (YBCO, GdBCO etc.) were discovered in the late 80s while superconductivity in MgB2, an MTS, was discovered in 2001. The sharp transition in transport properties of HTS has allowed the fabrication of composite infrared thermal detectors (bolometers) with better figures of merit than thermopile detectors - thermopiles are currently on board the CIRS instrument on the Cassini mission to Saturn. The potential for developing even more sensitive sensors for IR/Sub-mm applications using MgB2 thin films is assessed. Current MgB2 thin film deposition techniques and film quality are reviewed.
Lakew, Brook↗
Monolithic silicon bolometers
A new type of bolometer detector for the millimeter and submillimeter spectral range is described. The bolometer is constructed of silicon using integrated circuit fabrication techniques. Ion implantation is used to give controlled resistance vs temperature properties as well as extremely low 1/f noise contacts. The devices have been tested between 4.2 and 0.3 K. The best electrical NEP measured is 4 x 10 to the -16th W/Hz to the 1/2 at 0.35 K between 1- and 10-Hz modulation frequency. This device had a detecting area of 0.25 sq cm and a time constant of 20 msec at a bath temperature of 0.35 K.
Downey, P. M.↗
A cryogenically-cooled, balloon-borne far infrared survey telescope
The design and performance of the Arizona cryogenically-cooled, balloon-borne, multiband far infrared survey telescope are described. The 40 cm Cassegrain telescope is completely contained in a liquid helium dewar. The focal plane array consists of Fabry optics and four detectors which each have a 12 arc minute field of view. Both photoconductive and bolometer detectors are utilized at effective wavelengths of 20, 80, 100 and 150 microns. In 1977 the telescope was used to make multicolor large scale maps of 70 square degrees in the Cygnus X region and the W3 region.
Campbell, M. F.↗
Technology for satellite power conversion
The work is this reporting period was concentrated on electronically calibrating the bolometer detectors. The calibration is necessary for two reasons: first, the power delivered to the rectifying circuit must be known in order to choose a diode with the appropriate barrier height, and second, the power captured by the antenna must be measured if the efficiency of the rectenna is to be divided into antenna efficiency and rectification efficiency. The millimeter wave region operation of the bolometers was simulated with a VHF (10 to 90 MHz) test signal. These detectors are accurate to within roughly 10%. The typical responsivity of the bolometers is 10 volts/watt and the NEP at 20 Hz is 5 times 10 to the minus 9th power W(Hz)-1/2.
Gouker, M. A.↗
Calibration of optical detectors using discrete Fourier transform techniques
A method for determining the detector electrooptical transfer function (DEOTF) at different discrete frequencies simultaneously is presented. It involves simulation of the detector with a waveform of unknown frequency composition, such as a square wave or impulse function. The DEOTF is calculated as the ratio of the discrete Fourier transform of the detector output to the transform of the input waveform. This technique was successfully applied to Golay cell and bolometer detectors and can be used for other linear detector systems.
Hagopian, John G.↗
Simplified method for measuring the impedance of RF power sources - A concept
Bolometer detector and bridge circuit measure the RF power. A varied bridge reference resistor achieves maximum power transfer allowing the output impedance of the RF source to be determined from the known circuit parameters.
Oakley, E. C.↗
Infrared receivers for low background astronomy: Incoherent detectors and coherent devices from one micrometer to one millimeter
The status of incoherent detectors and coherent receivers over the infrared wavelength range from one micrometer to one millimeter is described. General principles of infrared receivers are included, and photon detectors, bolometers, coherent receivers, and important supporting technologies are discussed, with emphasis on their suitability for low background astronomical applications. Broad recommendations are presented and specific opportunities are identified for development of improved devices.
Boggess, N. W.↗
Tracking antenna arrays for near-millimeter waves
A two-dimensional monolithic array has been developed that gives the elevation and azimuth of point source targets. The array is an arrangement of rows and columns of antennas and bismuth bolometer detectors on a fused quartz substrate. Energy is focused onto the array through a lens placed on the back side of the substrate. At 1.38 mm with a 50 mm diameter objective lens, the array has demonstrated a positioning accuracy of 26 arcmin. In a differential mode this precision improves to 9 arcsec, limited by the mechanics of the rotating stage. This tracking could be automated to a fast two-step procedure where a source is first located to the nearest row and column, and then precisely located by scanning. With signal processing the array should be able to track multiple sources.
Tong, P. P.↗
A helium-3 cooled bolometer system for one millimeter continuum observations
A new, 1-mm-continuum, bolometer detector system has been constructed employing internal adsorption pumping of He-3 to reach an operating temperature close to 0.4 K. The system spectral bandwidth is 800 to 1200 microns. Although the system was originally designed to be used on the 5-m Hale telescope, it has also been successfully used on the 4-m Anglo-Australian telescope and on the 10-m dish at Owens Valley, California. At the 5-m Hale telescope, the system has a full width-half maximum (FWHM) beam size of 55 sec and an instantaneous noise-equivalent flux density of 6 Jy/square root of (Hz)/ in good weather.
Roellig, T. P. L.↗
Polarization of microwave noise source radiation in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range
Radiation spectra have been obtained in order to calculate the frequency bandwidth and polarization of three microwave noise sources. Results were obtained in the 1-10-mm wavelength region using a lamellar grating Fourier transform spectrometer and a helium-cooled bolometer detector. A secondary transmission region was found to have an input current as well as a polarization dependence, despite the directional output of the waveguide antenna.
Poutous, M. K.↗
Slot-line end-fire antennas for THz frequencies
Tapered slot-line endfire antennas, of BLTSA type, have been fabricated on 1.7 micron thin SiO2/Si3N4 (epsilon (sub r) = 4.5) dielectric membranes. The antenna patterns, in the E-, H-, D- and D-cross planes, were measured at 270, 348, 370, and 802 GHz using bismuth micro bolometer detectors. The antennas have approximately 12 dB directivity, and the -10 dB beam widths are 50 and 55 degrees in the E- and H-planes at 348 GHz, respectively. The measurements at millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths compare well with scale measurements at 45 GHz as well as with theoretical predictions. The overall results are encouraging and show that slot-line antennas can be fabricated for use at THz frequencies. Furthermore, it is shown that the very thin SiO2/Si3N4 membranes are strong enough to be used in practical applications.
Ekstroem, H.↗