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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 2)
We add improved feature resolution and Josephson Junctions to recent advances in YBCO films on Si substrates to produce infrared detectors of unsurpassed performance in the far-IR with moderate cooling needs.
We will develop more sensitive, long-wavelength, moderately-cooled IR detectors. We extend recent advances in high quality YBCO films on Si substrates by incorporating finer feature resolution, and better Josephson Junctions. These improved IR detectors target wavelengths beyond HgCdTe, and are critical for radiometers and Fourier transform spectrometers for future space missions.
The wavelength range depends on the absorber, which is not a target of this investigation. We could use so-called space-matched coatings, which give a nearly wavelength-independent absorption of 50% when certain conditions are satisfied. Or we could use gold-black for the absorber, which gives the Cassini CIRS spectrometer coverage out to nearly 1000. microns.
The benefit would be improved sensitivity infrared detector arrays for science instruments.
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