1982/03/15 by John C. Mather · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Materials Science · Engineering · #Superconducting and THz Device Technology #Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials #Calibration and Measurement Techniques
paper · doi:10.1364/ao.21.001125
openalex publication_date 1982/03/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
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.