Design of high-T/sub c/ superconducting bolometers for a far infrared imaging array

The design of high-T/sub c/ superconducting bolometers for use in a far-infrared imaging array for 30-100- mu m wavelengths is discussed. Measurements of the voltage noise in thin films of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / on yttria-stabilized zirconia buffer layers on silicon substrates are used to make performance estimates. It is noted that useful opportunities exist for imaging and spectroscopy with bolometer arrays made on micromachined silicon membranes. A circuit on each pixel which performs some signal integration can improve the sensitivity of large two-dimensional arrays of bolometers which use multiplexed readout amplifiers.<
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