Broadband superconducting detector using microsphere substrates
AssigneeProgress Technology Corporation
InventorRichard T. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A broadband photon detector capable of detecting a steady state flux of incident radiation operates using a superconducting material is biased at the temperature where the material changes from a superconducting to a non-superconducting state. Photons which strike said material cause a temperature rise and a measurable increase in resistivity of the material that continues until the radiation ceases. The superconducting material for detecting the incident radiation is formed as a strip on microspheres that act as a substrate to make as small a heat sink as possible.
Claims16
A broadband photon detector comprising:
- a housing;
- a superconducting material such that at least within a given temperature range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- a substrate on which said material is mounted, said substrate and said material further being disposed within said housing and said substrate comprising at least one microsphere having a hollow center;
- means for establishing said material at a given temperature within said range using blackbody radiation disposed in said housing;
- means for orienting said material so that photons can fall on said superconducting material;
- and
- means for sensing an increase in the resistivity of said material.
A detector to be used for sensing incident broadband radiation and attached to a circuit board located in a housing at which an equilibrium temperature can be established comprising:
- a superconducting material such that at least within a given temperature range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- and
- hollow spherical means for supporting said superconducting material without substantially causing thermal conduction away from said superconducting material.
A detector to be used for sensing incident broadband radiation and attached to a circuit board located in a housing at which an equilibrium temperature can be established comprising:
- a superconducting material such that at least within a given temperature range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- and
- means for supporting said superconducting material without substantially causing thermal conduction away from said superconducting material, said supporting means comprising a plurality of hollow microspheres.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.