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In this article, we propose a novel type of a wideband 2-D array of cold-electron bolometers (CEBs) sensitive to both polarizations of the incoming optical signal. This array was developed for osservatorio per il lontano infrarosso e le microonde su pallone orientabile (OLIMPO) balloon telescope with a requirement on bandwidth more than 10%. Sensitivity to both polarization components was achieved by a special meander-type arrangement of orthogonal L/2 dipoles. We present theoretical estimations for the optimal arrangement of 2-D arrays of CEBs, which allows achieving maximum efficiency in a wide band with the lowest noise equivalent power (NEP). A pixel layout with an optimal density of CEBs, sensitive to dual polarizations, and having more than 10% FWHM bandwidth at around 350 GHz was proposed and numerically analyzed. The layout consists of a periodic sparse array of orthogonal dipoles sensitive to both polarization components of the incoming signal. The numerical analysis confirmed that the sparse array is the most promising for a combination of high absorbing efficiency and low noise of the system and satisfying the 10% bandwidth requirements for the OLIMPO instrument. Different combinations of series and parallel connections of bolometers were considered for better noise properties to achieve the photon noise-limited level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present the design of a low loss planar phase switch operating at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. The system comprises a superconducting nanostrip that switches the RF signal between the two branches of a microstrip phase circuit. The employment of superconducting components reduces conduction losses to a negligible level. The required cooling below the transition temperature does not add extra effort since all high performance detectors employ superconducting circuits, and are in fact cooled well below the transition temperature of the phase circuit material. The proposed fully planar design allows the switch to be easily integrated into the detector circuit and eventually the realisation of a fully planar receiver. This avoids the use of bulky, expensive and lossy waveguide components and allows the fabrication of reliable and cheaply mass producible polarimeters that are now routinely used in large format CMB arrays. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]