c1.gif (954 bytes) "JOURNAL OF RADIOELECTRONICS" N 10, 1999

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ESTIMATION OF NOISE EQUIVALENT POWER AND DESIGN ANALYSIS OF AN ANDREEV REFLECTION HOT-ELECTRON MICROBOLOMETER FOR SUBMILLIMETER RADIOASTRONOMY

A.N. Vystavkin

Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics RAS

received October 14, 1999

 Results of theoretical estimations and measurements of characteristics of an Andreev reflection hot-electron microbolometer for submillimeter radioastronomy made by different researchers are reviewed and analysed. Peculiarities and characteristics of the microbolometers using two types of microthermometer for measurement of the electron temperature increment under influence of the radiation: the SIN-junction and the transition-edge sensor (TES) with electrothermal feedback - are compared. Advantages of the microbolometer with the second type of the microthermometer when the TES is used simultaneously as the absorber of radiation are shown. Methods of achievement of the best noise equivalent power of the microbolometer in such version as well as methods of the matching the microbolometer with the incident radiation flow using planar antennas and with the channel of output signal measurement using a SQUID-picoammeter are considered. 

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