Analysis of Bolometer Operation near the Superconducting
Transition Edge Using Microwave Readout

A. A. Kuzmin^a, S. V. Shitov^{b, c}, and A. V. Ustinov^c

^a Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University),
Institutskii per. 9, Dolgoprudnyi, Moscow oblast, 141700 Russia
^b Kotel’nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Mokhovaya ul. 17, Moscow, 125009 Russia
^c National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Leninskii pr. 4, Moscow, 119049 Russia

Received January 22, 2013

Abstract—The results of pioneering experiments on using a new method of microwave recording the bolom-
etric response from a metal film near its superconducting transition edge are analyzed. Experiments are carried
out at 4.5 K using a thin-film niobium absorber with a critical temperature of 6.7 K. The validity of the adopted
electrodynamic model is confirmed. The chip contains a miniature antenna tuned to approximately 600 GHz
and integrated into a planar resonator with a frequency of 6 GHz, which is weakly coupled with a pump line.
Based on the experimental and model data, the presence of electrothermal feedback is shown, stability criteria
are found, and I–V characteristics at microwaves are obtained. Bulk experimental samples with an absorber
measuring 5 m 2.5 m 15 nm are fabricated with optical photolithography. At an amplifier channel noise
of 3 K, the optical sensitivity of a prototype receiver can be expected at a level of 10^–15 W/Hz^1/2.

10.1134/S1063784214010101

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