Microbolometer Detectors for Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging

Abstract

Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, ARLApproved for public release; distribution unlimited. ii REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGEForm Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) March 20052. REPORT TYPE ARL-TR-3460 SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)U.S. Army Research Laboratory 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783-1197 SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S) DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for public release; distribution unlimited. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTReports on far-infrared and infrared microbolometer detectors developed with cooled high temperature superconductor (HTSC) materials were reviewed to determine whether it would be feasible to use this type of detector in a passive millimeter wave camera (PMC). A base-line set of achievable HTSC microbolometer parameter values were identified and used to calculate the noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of a cooled MMW radiometer with this type of detector. The report includes results showing that the calculated NETD of such a radiometer operating at a 30-Hz modulation frequency would be between 3 and 6 K for an RF bandwidth between 70 and 40 GHz. A PMC with this NETD would be competitive with that of previously developed systems, be much less costly, and be suitable for a number of applications. The results of further calculations made to determine the HTSC microbolometer parameter values needed to obtain an improved MMW detector are included in the report. SUBJECT TERMS