A Low Resistance Infrared Bolometer for Use with a SQUID Detection System

摘要

Low resistance thin film bolometers for infrared detection when impedance matched to a SQUID amplifier were fabricated from a range of gold/germanium alloys (12 to 25 atomic per cent gold). The low resistances of 0.1 to 0.2 ohms, including contact resistances, were obtained in the direction perpendicular to the film plane. High resistance versions with conduction parallel to the film plane were fabricated simultaneously. The resistance for the parallel conduction was characteristic of a semiconductor, but for the perpendicular mode it was characteristic of a metal. Available data suggests that the metallic conduction was caused by uncontrolled gold particle sizes which could equal the thickness of the film. (Author)