The Josephson Junction as a Detector of Microwave and Far Infrared Radiation.

This article reviews the present status of Josephson effect detectors of microwave and far-infrared radiation. It includes an elementary exposition of the theory of the Josephson effect and a general discussion of equivalent circuits for real junctions, junction impedance, junction optimization, and junction noise. A detailed description is given of four devices which show promise of competing successfully with non Josephson effect devices. These are the bolometer, the video detector, the heterodyne detector with external local oscillator, and the parametric amplifier. A number of other devices are described in less detail.