New Millimeter and Submillimeter Wave Detecting System Utilizing n-InSb Electronic Bolometer

A new system has been devised for detecting millimeter and submillimeter waves by utilizing hot-electron effects of n-type InSb at liquie helium temperature. In the system, neither a magnetic field nor a liquid helium transformer is employed. The spectral photo-response, the response time, the sensitivity, and the noise-equivalent power (NEP) of this system are measured, and very low NEP of 4×10-13 (W/√Hz) is realized at a wavelength of 1 mm and at 4.2 K.