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Physical Principles of Low Temperature Detectors: Ultimate Performance Limits and Current Detector Capabilities

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Abstract

The rapid development of low temperature thermal detectors since the early 1980s has resulted in remarkable improvements in the sensitivity and precision of many types of measurements. We will discuss the operating principles of these detectors in the most general possible terms. We will try to show how the physics of some popular thermometer systems introduces performance limits, and how the different figures of merit and optimizations that result affect various applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Universität Heidelberg, INF 227, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    C. Enss

  2. Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, 1150 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    D. McCammon

Authors
  1. C. Enss
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  2. D. McCammon
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Correspondence to C. Enss.

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Enss, C., McCammon, D. Physical Principles of Low Temperature Detectors: Ultimate Performance Limits and Current Detector Capabilities. J Low Temp Phys 151, 5–24 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-007-9611-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-007-9611-7

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