Index Terms-Bolometer, mixer, terahertz (THz), submillimeter, YBCO. room temperature detector.

A high sensitivity broadband terahertz direct detector based on YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 high-Tc superconductor microbolometers is presented. At 77 K, the responsivity of the spiral antenna-integrated microbolometers (1.5 μm x 1.5 μm) is 190 V/W, referenced to the input of the silicon substrate lens, across the frequency range of 330 GHz to 1.63 THz in a single device. The response time is approximately 300 ps. Using a room temperature readout, we measure an optical noise equivalent power (NEP) of 20 pW/Hz 1/2 (readout noise limited) for modulation frequencies ranging from 500 Hz to 100 kHz.

Abstract. Global three-dimensional data are a key to understanding gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) is a new Swedish satellite mission that addresses this need. It applies space-borne limb imaging in combination with tomographic and spectroscopic analysis to obtain gravity wave data on relevant spatial scales. Primary measurement targets are O2 atmospheric band dayglow and nightglow in the near infrared, and sunlight scattered from noctilucent clouds in the ultraviolet. While tomography provides horizontally and vertically resolved data, spectroscopy allows analysis in terms of mesospheric temperature, composition, and cloud properties. Based on these dynamical tracers, MATS will produce a climatology on wave spectra during a 2-year mission. Major scientific objectives include a characterization of gravity waves and their interaction with larger-scale waves and mean flow in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, as well as their relationship to dynamical conditions in the lower and upper atmosphere. MATS is currently being prepared to be ready for a launch in 2020. This paper provides an overview of scientific goals, measurement concepts, instruments, and analysis ideas.

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