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Author Shurakov, Alexander; Tong, Cheuk-yu E.; Blundell, Raymond; Gol’tsman, Gregory url  openurl
  Title A microwave pumped HEB direct detector using a homodyne readout scheme Type Abstract
  Year 2014 Publication Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 129  
  Keywords waveguide NbN HEB detector, NEP  
  Abstract We report the results of our study on the noise performance of a fast THz detector based on the repurpose of hot electron bolometer mixer (HEB). Instead of operating with an elevated bath temperature, microwave power is injected into the HEB device, which enhances the sensitivity of the detector and at the same time provide a mechanism for reading out impedance changes of the device induced by the modulated incident THz radiation [1]. We have demonstrated an improvement of the detector’s optical noise equivalent power (NEP). Furthermore, by introducing a homodyne readout scheme based on a room temperature microwave mixer, the dynamic range of the detector is increased. The HEB devices used in this work were made of 4 nm thick NbN film. The detector chips were installed into a waveguide mixer block fitted with a corrugated horn, mounted on the cold plate of a liquid helium cryostat. The HEBs were operated at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. The signal beam was terminated on black bodies at ambient and liquid nitrogen temperatures. A chopper wheel placed in front of the cryostat window operating at a frequency of 1.48 kHz modulated the input load temperature of the detector. A cold mesh filter, centered at 830 GHz, was used to define the input signal power bandwidth. Microwave was injected through a broadband directional coupler inside the cryostat. Our experiments were mostly conducted at a pump frequency of 1.5 GHz. The reflected microwave power from the HEB device was fed into a cryogenic low noise amplifier (LNA). The output of the LNA was connected to the RF input port of a room temperature microwave mixer, which beat the reflected signal from the HEB using a copy of the original 1.5 GHz injection signal in a homodyne demodulation scheme. The amplitude of the detected power was measured by a lock-in amplifier, which was synchronized to the chopper frequency. Preliminary results yield an optical NEP of ~1 pW/ Hz 1/2 which corresponds to an improvement of a factor of 3 compared to [1], driven mainly by a lowering of the system noise floor. The dynamic range was also increased by similar amount. References 1. A. Shurakov et al. “A Microwave Pumped Hot Electron Bolometric Direct Detector,” submitted on Oct 18, 2013 to Appl. Phys. Let.  
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  Call Number Serial 1365  
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Author Tong, C. Edward; Trifonov, Andrey; Blundell, Raymond; Shurakov, Alexander; Gol’tsman, Gregory url  openurl
  Title A digital terahertz power meter based on an NbN thin film Type Abstract
  Year 2014 Publication Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 170  
  Keywords waveguide NbN HEB mixers  
  Abstract We have further studied the effect of subjecting a superconducting Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) element made from an NbN thin film to microwave radiation. Since the photon energy is weak, the microwave radiation does not simply heat the film, but generates a bi-static state, switching between the superconducting and normal states, upon the application of a small voltage bias. Indeed, a relaxation oscillation of a few MHz has previously been reported in this regime [1]. Switching between the superconducting and normal states modulates the reflected microwave pump power from the device. A simple homodyne setup readily recovers the spontaneous switching waveform in the time domain. The switching frequency is a function of both the bias voltage (DC heating) and the applied microwave power. In this work, we use a 0.8 THz HEB waveguide mixer for the purpose of demonstration. The applied microwave pump, coupled through a directional coupler, is at 1 GHz. Since the pump power is of the order of a few μW, a room temperature amplifier is sufficient to amplify the reflected pump power from the HEB mixer, which beats with the microwave source in a homodyne set-up. After further amplification, the switching waveform is passed onto a frequency counter. The typical frequency of the switching pulses is 3-5 MHz. It is found that the digital frequency count increases with higher microwave pump power. When the HEB mixer is subjected to additional optical power at 0.8 THz, the frequency count also increases. When we vary the incident optical power by using a wire grid attenuator, a linear relationship is observed between the frequency count and the applied optical power, over at least an order of magnitude of power. This phenomenon can be exploited to develop a digital power meter, using a very simple electronics setup. Further experiments are under way to determine the range of linearity and the accuracy of calibration transfer from the microwave to the THz regime. References 1. Y. Zhuang, and S. Yngvesson, “Detection and interpretation of bistatic effects in NbN HEB devices,” Proc. 13 th Int. Symp. Space THz Tech., 2002, pp. 463–472.  
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  Call Number Serial 1366  
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Author Tretyakov, I.; Maslennikov, S.; Semenov, A.; Safir, O.; Finkel, M.; Ryabchun, S.; Kaurova, N.; Voronov, B.; Goltsman, G.; Klapwijk, T. M. url  openurl
  Title Impact of operating conditions on noise and gain bandwidth of NbN HEB mixers Type Conference Article
  Year 2015 Publication Proc. 26th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 26th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 39  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixers  
  Abstract Hot-electron bolometer mixers (HEB’s) are the most promising devices as mixing element for terahertz spectroscopy and astronomy at frequencies beyond 1.4 THz. They have a low noise temperature and low demands on local oscillator (LO) power. 1,2 An important limitation is the IF bandwidth, of the order of a few GHz, and which in principle depends on energy relaxation due to electron- phonon processes and on diffusion-cooling. It has been proposed by Prober that a reduction in length of the HEB would lead to an increased bandwidth. 3 This appeared to be achieved by Tretyakov et al by measuring the gain bandwidth close to the critical temperature of the NbN. 2 Unfortunately, the noise bandwidth of similar devices operated at temperatures around 4.2 K appear not depend on the length. The fundamental problem to be addressed is the position-dependent superconducting state of the HEB- devices under operating conditions, which determines the conditions for the cooling of the hot quasiparticles. Some progress has been made by Barends et al in a semi-empirical model to describe the I,V curves under operating conditions at a bath temperature around 4.2 K. 4 In more recent work Vercruyssen et al have analyzed the I,V curve, without any LO-equivalent bias, of a model NSN system. 5 This work suggests that the most appropriate model for an HEB under operating conditions is that of a potential-well in the superconducting gap in the center of the NbN, analogous the bimodal superconducting state described by Vercruyssen et al. Hot quasiparticles in the well can not diffuse out and can only cool by electron-phonon processes, those with higher energies than the heights of the walls of the well can diffuse out. Using this working hypothesis we have carried out experiments on a sub-micrometer NbN bridge connected to a gold (Au) planar spiral antenna. An in situ process is used to deposit Au on NbN. The Au is removed in the center to define the uncovered NbN, which will act as the superconducting mixer itself. The antenna is deposited on the remaining Au layer on the NbN. The Au contacts suppress the energy gap of the NbN film located underneath the gold layer 7,8 . The measured resistive transition is shown in Fig.1. It clearly shows a T c of the bilayer at 6.2 K and the resistive transition of the NbN itself around 9 K. In addition we show the measured noise bandwidth (red squares) for different bath temperatures. Clearly the noise bandwidth increases strongly by increasing the bath temperature from 5 K to 8 K, up to 13 GHz. We interpret this pattern as evidence for improved out-diffusion of hot electrons due to normal banks and a shallow superconducting potential well compared to k B T. As expected the noise temperature in this regime is much bigger than when biased at 4.2 K. R EFERENCES 1 W. Zhang, P. Khosropanah, J. R. Gao, E. L. Kollberg, K. S. Yngvesson, T. Bansal, R. Barends, and T. M. Klapwijk Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 111113, (2010). 2 Ivan Tretyakov, Sergey Ryabchun, Matvey Finkel, Anna Maslennikova, Natalia Kaurova, Anastasia Lobastova, Boris Voronov, and Gregory Gol’tsman Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 033507 (2011). 3 D. E. Prober, Appl. Phys. Lett. 62, 2119 (1992). 4 R. Barends, M. Hajenius, J. R. Gao, and T. M. Klapwijk, Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 263506 (2005). 5 N. Vercruyssen, T. G. A. Verhagen, M. G. Flokstra, J. P. Pekola, and T. M. Klapwijk Physical Review B 85, 224503 (2012).  
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  Call Number Serial 1159  
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Author Trifonov, A.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Lobanov, Y.; Kaurova, N.; Blundell, R.; Goltsman, G. url  openurl
  Title Gap frequency and photon absorption in a hot electron bolometer Type Conference Article
  Year 2016 Publication Proc. 27th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 27th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 121  
  Keywords NbN HEB; Si membrane  
  Abstract The superconducting energy gap is a crucial parameter of a superconductor when used in mixing applications. In the case of the SIS mixer, the mixing process is efficient for frequencies below the energy gap, whereas, in the case of the HEB mixer, the mixing process is most efficient at frequencies above the gap, where photon absorption takes place more readily. We have investigated the photon absorption phenomenon around the gap frequency of HEB mixers based on NbN films deposited on silicon membranes. Apart from studying the pumped I-V curves of HEB devices, we have also probed them with microwave radiation, as previously described [1]. At frequencies far below the gap frequency, the pumped I-V curves show abrupt switching between the superconducting and resistive states. For the NbN HEB mixers we tested, which have critical temperatures of ~9 K, this is true for frequencies below about 400 GHz. As the pump frequency is increased beyond 400 GHz, the resistive state extends towards zero bias and at some point a small region of negative differential resistance appears close to zero bias. In this region, the microwave probe reveals that the device impedance is changing randomly with time. As the pump frequency is further increased, this random impedance change develops into relaxation oscillations, which can be observed by the demodulation of the reflected microwave probe. Initially, these oscillations take the form of several frequencies grouped together under an envelope. As we approach the gap frequency, the multiple frequency relaxation oscillations coalesce into a single frequency of a few MHz. The resultant square-wave nature of the oscillation is a clear indication that the device is in a bi-stable state, switching between the superconducting and normal state. Above the gap frequency, it is possible to obtain a pumped I-V curve with no negative differential resistance above a threshold pumping level. Below this pumping level, the device demonstrates bi-stability, and regular relaxation oscillation at a few MHz is observed as a function of pump power. The threshold pumping level is clearly related to the amount of power absorbed by the device and its phonon cooling. From the above experiment, we can derive the gap frequency of the NbN film, which is 585 GHz for our 6 μm thin silicon membrane-based device. We also confirm that the HEB mixer is not an efficient photon absorber for radiation below the gap frequency. 1. A. Trifonov et al., “Probing the stability of HEB mixers with microwave injection”, IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., vol. 25, no. 3, June 2015.  
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  Call Number Serial 1204  
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Author Merkel, H. F.; Yagoubov, P. A.; Kroug, M.; Khosropanah, P.; Kollberg, E. L.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Gershenzon, E. M. url  doi
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  Title Noise temperature and absorbed LO power measurement methods for NbN phonon-cooled hot electron bolometric mixers at terahertz frequencies Type Conference Article
  Year 1998 Publication Proc. 28th European Microwave Conf. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 28th European Microwave Conf.  
  Volume 1 Issue Pages 294-299  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixers  
  Abstract In this paper the absorbed LO power requirements and the noise performance of NbN based phonon-cooled hot electron bolometric (HEB) quasioptical mixers are investigated for RF frequencies in the 0.55-1.1 range The minimal measured DSB noise temperatures are about 500 K at 640 GHz, 600 K at 750 GHz, 850 K at 910 GHz and 1250 K at 1.1 THz. The increase in noise temperature at 1.1THz is attributed to water absorption. The absorbed LO power is measured using a calorimetric approach. The results are subsequently corrected for lattice heating. These values are compared to results of a novel one dimensional hot spot mixer models and to a more traditional isotherm method which tends to underestimate the absorbed LO power for small bias powers. Typically a LO power between 50nW and 100nW is needed to pump the device to the optimal operating point.  
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  Area Expedition Conference 28th European Microwave Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1580  
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Author Seliverstov, Sergey V.; Rusova, Anastasia A.; Kaurova, Natalya S.; Voronov, Boris M.; Goltsman, Gregory N. openurl 
  Title AC-biased superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer for frequency-domain multiplexing Type Conference Article
  Year 2017 Publication Proc. 28th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 28th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 120-122  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixer  
  Abstract We present the results of characterization of fast and sensitive superconducting antenna-coupled THz direct detector based on NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) with AC-bias. We discuss the possibility of implementation of the AC-bias for design the readout system from the multi-element arrays of HEBs using standard technique of frequency-domain multiplexing. We demonstrate experimentally that this approach does not lead to significant deterioration of the HEB sensitivity compared with the value obtained for the same detector with DC- bias. Results of a numerical calculations of the HEB responsivity at AC-bias are in a good agreement with the experiment.  
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  Call Number Serial 1174  
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Author Antipov, S.; Trifonov, A.; Krause, S.; Meledin, D.; Desmaris, V.; Belitsky, V.; Gol’tsman, G. openurl 
  Title Gain bandwidth of NbN HEB mixers on GaN buffer layer operating at 2 THz local oscillator frequency Type Conference Article
  Year 2017 Publication Proc. 28th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 28th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 147-148  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixers, GaN buffer-layer, IF bandwidth  
  Abstract In this paper, we present IF bandwidth measurement results of NbN HEB mixers, which are employing NbN thin films grown on a GaN buffer-layer. The HEB mixers were operated in the heterodyne regime at a bath temperature of approximately 4.5 K and with a local oscillator operating at a frequency of 2 THz. A quantum cascade laser served as the local oscillator and a reference synthesizer based on a BWO generator (130-160 GHz) and a semiconductor superlattice (SSL) frequency multiplier was used as a signal source. By changing the LO frequency it was possible to record the IF response or gain bandwidth of the HEB with a spectrum analyzer at the operation point, which yielded lowest noise temperature. The gain bandwidth that was recorded in the heterodyne regime at 2 THz amounts to approximately 5 GHz and coincides well with a measurement that has been performed at elevated bath temperatures and lower LO frequency of 140 GHz. These findings strongly support that by using a GaN buffer-layer the phonon escape time of NbN HEBs can be significantly lower as compared to e.g. Si substrate, thus, providing higher gain bandwidth.  
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  Call Number Serial 1175  
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Author Richter, H.; Semenov, A.; Hubers, H.-W.; Smirnov, K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Voronov, B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Phonon cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer for 1-5 THz Type Conference Article
  Year 2004 Publication Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz  
  Volume Issue Pages 241-242  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixers  
  Abstract Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy and planetary research need quantum limited sensitivity. In instruments which are currently built for SOFIA and Herschel, superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) are used to achieve this goal at frequencies above 1.4 THz. In order to optimize the performance for this frequency of hot electron bolometer mixers with different in-plane dimensions and logarithmic-spiral feed antennas have been investigated. Their noise temperatures and beam patterns were measured. Above 3 THz the best performance was achieved with a superconducting bridge of 2.0/spl times/0.2 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ incorporated in a logarithmic spiral antenna. The DSB noise temperatures were 2700 K, 4700 and 6400 K at 3.1 THz, 4.3 THz and 5.2 THz, respectively. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for THz heterodyne receivers up to at least 5 THz.  
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  Call Number Serial 1506  
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Author Rubtsova, I.; Korneev, A.; Matvienko, V.; Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Goltsman, G.; Pearlman, A.; Slysz, W.; Verevkin, A.; Sobolewski, R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Spectral sensitivity, quantum efficiency, and noise equivalent power of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors in the IR range Type Conference Article
  Year 2004 Publication Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz  
  Volume Issue Pages 461-462  
  Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract We have developed nanostructured NbN superconducting single-photon detectors capable of GHz-rate photon counting in the 0.4 to 5 /spl mu/m wavelength range. Quantum efficiency of 30%, dark count rate 3/spl times/10/sup -4/ s/sup -1/, and NEP=10/sup -20/ W/Hz/sup -1/2/ have been measured at the 1.3-/spl mu/m wavelength for the device operating at 2.0 K.  
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  Call Number Serial 1507  
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Author Tretyakov, Ivan; Kaurova, N.; Voronov, B. M.; Goltsman, G. N. url  openurl
  Title About effect of the temperature operating conditions on the noise temperature and noise bandwidth of the terahertz range NbN hot-electron bolometers Type Abstract
  Year 2018 Publication Proc. 29th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal (up) Proc. 29th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.  
  Volume Issue Pages 113  
  Keywords NbN HEB mixer  
  Abstract Results of an experimental study of the noise temperature (Tn) and noise bandwidth (NBW) of the superconductor NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer as a function of its temperature (Tb) and NbN bridge length are presented. It was determined that the NBW of the mixer is significantly wider at temperatures close to the critical ones (Tc) than are values measured at 4.2 K. The NBW of the mixer measured at the heterodyne frequency of 2.5 THz at temperature Tb close to Tc was ~13 GHz, as compared with 6 GHz at Tb = 4.2 K. This experiment clearly demonstrates the limitation of the thermal flow from the NbN bridge at Tb ≪ Tc for mixers manufactured by the in situ technique. This limitation is close in its nature to the Andreev reflection on the superconductor/metal boundary. In this case, the noise temperature of the studied mixer increased from 1100 to 3800 K.  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1313  
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