Josephson Junction Arrays as photofluxonic detectors.

The possible use of Josephson Junction Arrays as fast photofluxonic detectors of radiation is discussed. This application is based on the capability of the incoming radiation to induce the creation and the unbinding of quantized excitations (vortices and/or antivortices): that then propagate apart across the array. Such detectors may in principle offer spatial and/or energy resolution and should be interfaceable with very fast charge integrators and amplifiers based on semiconducting technology. The basic features of the detector are studied as a function of the detector geometry, the de bias current and the magnetic penetration depth of the array.