100-mK bolometric receiver for low-background astronomy

The design and construction of 100 mK composite bolometers for low background submillimeter and millimeter-wave astronomy are discussed. The bolometers are cooled to 100 mK using an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator. The bolometers consist of a silicon substrate suspended by nylon fibers, a bismuth film absorber, a neutron transmutation doped germanium thermometer with graphite fiber electrical leads, and a brass wire thermal strap. Heated JFET amplifiers located on the 1.5 K cold plate are used to read out the bolometer signals. Electrically measured noise equivalent powers as low as 2 X 10 -17 W/(root)Hz have been achieved.