While experimental studies of kinetic-inductance sensors have been limited so far by the temperature range near the superconducting transition, these detectors can be very sensitivity at temperatures well below the transition, where the number of equilibrium quasiparticles is exponentially small. In this regime, a shift of the quasiparticle chemical potential under radiation results in the change of the kinetic inductance, which can be measured by a sensitive SQUID readout. We modeled the kinetic inductance response of detectors made from disordered superconducting Nb, NbC, and MoRe films. Low phonon transparency of the interface between the superconductor and the substrate causes substantial re-trapping of phonons providing high quantum efficiency and the operating time of approximately 1 ms at 1 K. Due to the small number of quasiparticles, the noise equivalent power of the detector determined by the quasiparticle generation-recombination noise can be as small as approximately 10(exp -19) W/Hz(exp 1/2) at He4 temperatures.

Sergeev, A. V.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Kinetic inductance photodetectors based on nonequilibrium response in superconducting thin-film structures

We modeled the kinetic inductance response of detectors made from disordered superconducting Nb, NbC, and MoRe films.

kinetics↗

NASA NTRS2000

Hot-electron direct detectors: feasibility of NEP = 10(sup -20) W/Hz at submillimeter waves

Recently we have presented a concept for a hot-electron direct detector (HEDD) capable of counting single millimeter-wave photons.

radioastronomy hot-electron bolometer↗

NASA NTRS1998

Comment on Observation of a Linear Mean-Free-Path Dependence of the Electron-Phonon Scattering Rate in Thick AuPd Films

Recent paper has raised again a question about the electron-phonon (EP) relaxation rate in impure metals. From weak localization (WL) measurements the authors have found that the dephasing rate in AuPd disordered films follows the T(sup 2)el-law (el is the mean free path).

electron-phonon interaction impure films hot elect↗

NASA NTRS1998

Interrelation of Resistivity and Inelastic Electron-Phonon Scattering Rate in Impure NbC Films

A complex study of the electron-phonon interaction in thin NbC films with electron mean free path l=2-13 nm gives strong evidence that electron scattering is significantly modified due to the interference between electron-phonon and elastic electron scattering from impurities.

scattering resistivity↗

NASA NTRS1985

Diagnostic of electromagnetic conditions in space using cosmic rays

The method of spectrographic global survey was used to study the time variations in parameters of cosmic ray (CR) pitch angle anisotropy and their relationship with the variations of some solar wind characteristics under different electromagnetic conditions in interplanetary space. A classification is made of the conditions that are accompanied by the increase in CR anisotropy.

Dvornikov, V. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Diurnal variations of cosmic ray geomagnetic cut-off threshold rigidities

The spectrographic global survey method was used to investigate the rigidity variations Rc of geomagnetic cut-off as a function of local time and the level of geomagnetic disturbance for a number of stations of the world wide network. It is shown that geomagnetic cut-off threshold rigidities undergo diurnal variations. The diurnal wave amplitude decreases with increasing threshold rigidity Rc, and the wave maximum occurs at 2 to 4 hr LT. The amplitude of diurnal variations increases with increasing geomagnetic activity. The results agree with those from trajectory calculations made for an asymmetric model of the magnetosphere during different geomagnetic disturbance conditions.

Dvornikov, V. M.↗