Observation of photon noise by cold-electron bolometers

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that cold-electron bolometers detect photon noise from black body radiation, with experimental results aligning with theoretical models, confirming photon noise as the dominant noise component.

Contribution

First experimental observation of photon noise in cold-electron bolometers, validated by theoretical modeling and additional heating experiments.

Findings

Photon noise exceeds other noise components in the bolometers.

Noise dependence on absorbed power is due to photonic component.

Noise is nearly independent of electron temperature, confirming photon noise presence.

Abstract

We have measured a response to a black body radiation and noise of the cold-electron bolometers. The experimental results have been fitted by theoretical model with two heat-balance equations. The measured noise has been decomposed into several terms with the help of theory. It is demonstrated that the photon noise exceeds any other noise components, that allows us to conclude that the bolometers see the photon noise. Moreover, a peculiar shape of the noise dependence on the absorbed power originates completely from the photonic component according to the theory. In the additional experiment on heating of the cryostat plate together with the sample holder we have observed nearly independence of the noise on the electron temperature of the absorber, which has provided another proof of the presence of the photon noise in the first experiment.