High-T-c, transition-edge superconducting (TES) bolometer on a monolithic sapphire membrane - construction and performance

摘要

Suspended, monolithic, 12 mum thick, low thermal mass r-plane sapphire membranes with predictable thermal isolation have been fabricated for use in the construction of TES bolometers. A thin film of YBa2Cu3O7-partial derivative (YBCO) high temperature superconductor grown epitaxially on one such membrane shows a sharp transition temperature at 90K. Early performance results of a high-T-C TES bolometer fabricated using a monolithic membrane are presented and compared to those of a previous kevlar fiber suspended TES bolometer. Merits of voltage biasing to improve noise and response time are briefly discussed. Monolithic sapphire membranes open the door for the development of 1D and 2D arrays of moderately cooled TES bolometers for far infrared exploration of the outer solar system. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.