Nickel bolometers

Abstract

A modified method of the production of nickel bolometers and their properties are described. A typical example is a bolometer of dimensions 005×2 mm and resistance 14.9 Ω, the NEP (noise equivalent power) of which is 6.23×10⁻¹¹ Wc^−1/2 in air and 1.9×10⁻¹¹ Wc^−1/2 in vacuo. The paper also describes the influence of cooling the surroundings with liquid nitrogen on the properties of the bolometer. The NEP of a bolometer that works in vacuo with cooled surroundings is 5 times lower. A method is given for correcting the characteristics of two similar bolometers for use in a d.c. bridge which makes the equilibrium of the bridge independent of bridge-current fluctuations in a large range of current.