High-sensitivity transition-edge-sensed bolometers: Improved speed and characterization with AC and DC bias
Abstract
We report on efforts to improve the speed of low-G far-infrared transition-edged-sensed bolometers. We use a fabrication process that does not require any dry etch steps to reduce heat capacity on the suspended device and measure a reduction in the detector time constant. However, we also measure an increase in the temperature-normalized thermal conductance (G) and a corresponding increase in the noise-equivalent power (NEP). We employ a new near-IR photon-noise technique using a near-IR laser to calibrate the frequency-domain multiplexed AC system and compare the results to a well-understood DC circuit. We measure an NEP white noise level of 0.8 aW/rtHz with a 1/f knee below 0.1 Hz and a time constant of 3.2 ms.
Copyright and License
© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.
Acknowledgement
The research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004). This work was funded by the NASA (Award No. 141108.04.02.01.47)—to Dr. C. M. Bradford. We would like to thank Jonathan Hunacek and Brian Steinbach for helpful discussions.
Contributions
Logan Foote: Conceptualization (equal); Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Investigation (lead); Methodology (lead); Resources (equal); Software (lead); Visualization (equal); Writing – original draft (lead); Writing – review & editing (lead). Michael D. Audley: Investigation (equal). Charles (Matt) Bradford: Conceptualization (equal); Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Funding acquisition (lead); Investigation (lead); Methodology (equal); Project administration (lead); Resources (lead); Supervision (lead); Visualization (equal); Writing – original draft (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Gert de Lange: Investigation (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Pierre Echternach: Conceptualization (supporting); Formal analysis (supporting); Investigation (equal); Methodology (supporting); Resources (equal); Supervision (supporting). Dale J. Fixsen: Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Investigation (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Howard Hui: Investigation (supporting). Matthew Kenyon: Conceptualization (equal); Investigation (lead); Methodology (equal); Writing – original draft (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Hien Nguyen: Conceptualization (equal); Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Investigation (lead); Methodology (equal); Resources (equal); Supervision (equal); Visualization (equal); Writing – original draft (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Roger O'Brient: Investigation (equal). Elmer H. Sharp: Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Investigation (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Johannes G. Staguhn: Data curation (equal); Formal analysis (equal); Investigation (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Jan van der Kuur: Conceptualization (equal); Investigation (equal); Methodology (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Jonas Zmuidzinas: Conceptualization (supporting); Methodology (supporting); Supervision (supporting).
Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
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Additional details
- ISSN
- 1089-7550
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 80NM0018D0004
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- 141108.04.02.01.47