A Far Infrared Photometer for Ground Based Astronomical Observations

We have developed a infrared photometer which is suitable for astronomical observations through the millimetric wave band of the atmospheric windows.It consists of a Ge-Ga bolometer operating ai l.0K with a throughput AW=0.3 cm²sr and a NET=lmk/Hz^1/2.Two metallic meshes set the windows at about 10cm^-1 and 5cm^-1.It is sensitive enough to be limited by quantum fluctuations of atmospheric radiation.But also extremely simple to handle.