Broad-band fast detection in Nb HEBs

Discusses design and test of a niobium superconducting edge hot-electron bolometer which operates from a standard 4K helium cryostat. It has a peak optical responsivity of 160 V/W and a minimum optical NEP of 4 pW.Hz/sup - 1/2 / with a detection time constant of 1.6 nanoseconds. The detector can be used throughout the millimetre, infrared and optical spectral regions. These performance figures should make the device very useful for free electron laser and pulsed field detection applications.