ULTRAFAST IR DETECTOR RESPONSE IN HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTING THIN-FILMS

The response from a high T(c) superconducting multielement optical detector made of a laser deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O thin film has been evaluated. Several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were used to establish the presence of the correct phase of the thin film. We have used optical pulses from a laser diode at 830 nm and from a Q-switched CO2-laser at 10.6-mu-m. The detector responded to 50 ps (FWHM) pulses. A comparison between dR/dT of the film and the response amplitude as a function of temperature indicated a bolometric response.