Semenov, A., Hübers, H. - W., Engel, A., & Gol’tsman, G. (2002). Superconducting quantum detector for far infrared astronomy. In J. Wolf, J. Farhoomand, & C. R. McCreight (Eds.), Far-IR, Sub-mm & MM Detector Technology Workshop (pp. 3–49). NASA CP. NASA.
Abstract: We present the concept of the superconducting quantum detector for astronomy. Response to a single absorbed photon appears due to successive formation of a normal spot and phase-slip-centres in a narrow strip carrying sub-critical supercurrent. The detector simultaneously has a moderate energy resolution and a variable cut-off wavelength depending on both the material used and operation conditions. We simulated performance of the background-limited direct detector having the 100-micrometer cut-off wavelength. Low dark count rate will allow to realise 10-21 W Hz-1/2 noise equivalent power at 4 K background radiation. The detection mechanism provides a moderate 1/20 energy resolution at 50-micrometer wavelength.
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Semenov, A., Hübers, H. - W., Engel, A., & Gol'tsman, G. N. (2002). Background limited superconducting quantum detector for astronomy. In NASA/ADS.
Abstract: We present the concept of the superconducting quantum detector for astronomy. Response to a single absorbed photon appears due to successive formation of a normal spot and phase-slip-centers in a narrow strip carrying sub-critical supercurrent. The detector simultaneously has a moderate energy resolution and a variable cut-off wavelength depending on both the material used and operation conditions. We simulated performance of the background-limited direct detector having the 100- micrometer cut-off wavelength. Low dark count rate will allow to realize 10-21 W Hz-1/2 noise equivalent power at 4 K background radiation. The intrinsic recovery time of the counter is rather determined by diffusion of nonequilibrium electrons, thus, thermal fluctuations do not hamper energy resolution of the detector. Provided an appropriate readout technique, the resolution should be better than 1/20 at 50- micrometer wavelength. Planar layout and relatively simple technology favor integration of the detector into an array.
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Chulkova, G., Milostnaya, I., Tarkhov, M., Korneev, A., Minaeva, O., Voronov, B., et al. (2006). Superconducting single-photon nanostructured detectors for advanced optical applications. In Proc. Symposium on Photonics Technologies for 7th Framework Program (Vol. 400).
Abstract: We present superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on NbN thin-film nanostructures and operated at liquid helium temperatures. The SSPDs are made of ultrathin NbN films (2.5-4 nm thick, Tc= 9-11K) as meander-shaped nanowires covering the area of 10× 10 µm2. Our detectors are operated at the temperature well below the critical temperature Tc and are DC biased by a current Ib close to the meander critical current Ic. The operation principle of the detector is based on the use of the resistive region in a narrow ultra-thin superconducting stripe upon the absorption of an incident photon. The developed devices demonstrate high sensitivity and response speed in a broadband range from UV to mid-IR (up to 6 µm), making them very attractive for advanced optical technologies, which require efficient detectors of single quanta and low-density optical radiation.
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Verevkin, A. A., Ptitsina, N. G., Chulcova, G. M., Gol'Tsman, G. N., Gershenzon, E. M., & Yngvesson, K. S. (1996). Determination of the limiting mobility of a two-dimensional electron gas in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructures and direct measurement of the energy relaxation time. Phys. Rev. B Condens. Matter., 53(12), R7592–R7595.
Abstract: We present results for a method to measure directly the energy relaxation time (τe) for electrons in a single AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs heterojunction; measurements were performed from 1.6 to 15 K under quasiequilibrium conditions. We find τeαT−1 below 4 K, and τe independent of T above 4 K. We have also measured the energy-loss rate, ⟨Q⟩, by the Shubnikov-de Haas technique, and find ⟨Q⟩α(T3e−T3) for T<~4.2 K; Te is the electron temperature. The values and temperature dependence of τe and ⟨Q⟩ for T<4 K agree with calculations based on piezoelectric and deformation potential acoustic phonon scattering. At 4.2 K, we can also estimate the momentum relaxation time, τm, from our measured τe. This leads to a preliminary estimate of the phonon-limited mobility at 4.2 K of μ=3×107 cm2/Vs (ns=4.2×1011 cm−2), which agrees well with published numerical calculations, as well as with an earlier indirect estimate based on measurements on a sample with much higher mobility.
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Vahtomin, Y. B., Finkel, M. I., Antipov, S. V., Voronov, B. M., Smirnov, K. V., Kaurova, N. S., et al. (2002). Gain bandwidth of phonon-cooled HEB mixer made of NbN thin film with MgO buffer layer on Si. In Harvard university (Ed.), Proc. 13th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 259–270). Cambridge, MA, USA.
Abstract: We present recently obtained values for gain bandwidth of NbN HEB mixers for different substrates and film thicknesses and for MgO buffer layer on Si at LO frequency of 0.85-1 THz. The maximal bandwidth, 5.2 GHz, was achieved for the device on MgO buffer layer on Si with a 2 nm thick NbN film. Functional devices based on NbN films of such thickness were fabricated for the first time due to an improvement of superconducting properties of NbN film deposited on MgO buffer layer on Si substrate.
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