Abstract

New theoretical results for noise in cryogenic bolometers are derived. Johnson noise is reduced by as much as 60% by electrothermal feedback from the bias supply. Phonon noise in the thermal link is reduced by as much as 30% relative to the usual equilibrium formula. Photon noise in the Rayleigh-Jeans limit is computed with attention to the attenuation of the photon correlations in the light beam. Basic results on bolometer responsivity, time constant, and thermal properties are presented in a new and convenient form. Excess 1/f and contact shot noise are also discussed.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

The General Theory of Bolometer Performance

R. Clark Jones
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(1) 1-14 (1953)

Analytical approach to optimizing alternating current biasing of bolometers

Andrea Catalano, Alain Coulais, and Jean-Michel Lamarre
Appl. Opt. 49(31) 5938-5946 (2010)

Bolometer Theory

John Strong and Paul W. Lawrence
Appl. Opt. 7(1) 49-52 (1968)

Model for excess noise in voltage-biased superconducting bolometers

Jan M. Gildemeister, Adrian T. Lee, and Paul L. Richards
Appl. Opt. 40(34) 6229-6235 (2001)

Bolometers: ultimate sensitivity, optimization, and amplifier coupling

John C. Mather
Appl. Opt. 23(4) 584-588 (1984)