A Fullerene Based High Responsivity, Low Noise Superconducting Bolometer

9360860米勒 最近碳二十面体分子、富勒烯的可用性，以及在碱掺杂富勒烯衍生物中发现的超导性，为研究超导器件开辟了新的途径。 特别是，富勒烯预计将实现高性能的超导测辐射热计。 目前大多数的超导红外传感器都采用测热机制，包括最近发展起来的高温陶瓷。 热测量机制是很好理解的，一个简单的热模型充分预测热测量行为。使用该模型的富勒烯为基础的超导体预测实现一到两个数量级的改善的响应度（信号的变化为一个给定的功率变化）相比，超导陶瓷。 此外，富勒烯的相同固有物理性质也预测了噪声等效功率（NEP）的一个数量级的降低。 这些益处的组合可以在比探测率D上产生三个数量级的改进。 在第一阶段项目中，Sigma建议使用环保测试单元测试富勒烯薄膜的红外响应度，为商业设备和阵列做准备。 ***

9360860 Miller The recent availability of the carbon icosohedral molecules, the fullerenes, and the discovery of superconductivity in alkali doped fullerene derivatives opens anew avenues of investigation into superconducting devices. In particular, the fullerides are predicted to achieve high performance as superconducting bolometers. Most of the current superconducting infrared sensors have utilized bolometric mechanisms, including most of those developed recently from the high-T ceramics. The bolometric mechanisms are well understood, and a simple thermal model adequately predicts there bolometric behavior. Using that model the fullerence based superconductors are predicted to achieve a one to two order of magnitude improvement in responsivity (change of signal for a given change in power) in comparison to the superconducting ceramics. Additionally, the same intrinsic physical properties of the fullerenes predict a reduction of the Noise-Equivalent-Power (NEP) by an order of magnitude as well. the combination of benefits can yield a three order of magnitude improvement in the specific detectivity, D. In the Phase I project, Sigma proposes to test the IR responsivity of fulleride films using environmentally protecting test cells in preparation for commercial devices and arrays. ***