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Superconducting Bolometer Array ArchitecturesThe next generation of far-infrared and submillimeter instruments require large arrays of detectors containing thousands of elements. These arrays will necessarily be multiplexed, and superconducting bolometer arrays are the most promising present prospect for these detectors. We discuss our current research into superconducting bolometer array technologies, which has recently resulted in the first multiplexed detections of submillimeter light and the first multiplexed astronomical observations. Prototype arrays containing 512 pixels are in production using the Pop-Up Detector (PUD) architecture, which can be extended easily to 1000 pixel arrays. Planar arrays of close-packed bolometers are being developed for the GBT (Green Bank Telescope) and for future space missions. For certain applications, such as a slewed far-infrared sky survey, feedhorncoupling of a large sparsely-filled array of bolometers is desirable, and is being developed using photolithographic feedhorn arrays. Individual detectors have achieved a Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) of -10(exp 17) W/square root of Hz at 300mK, but several orders of magnitude improvement are required and can be reached with existing technology. The testing of such ultralow-background detectors will prove difficult, as this requires optical loading of below IfW. Antenna-coupled bolometer designs have advantages for large format array designs at low powers due to their mode selectivity.
Document ID
20020071044
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Benford, Dominic
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Chervenak, Jay
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Irwin, Kent
(National Inst. of Standards and Technology Boulder, CO United States)
Moseley, S. Harvey
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Shafer, Rick
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Staguhn, Johannes
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham, MD United States)
Wollack, Ed
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Oegerle, William
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Meeting
Location: Waikoloa, HI
Country: United States
Start Date: August 22, 2002
End Date: August 28, 2002
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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