Abstract: Traditional photon detectors are operated in the direct detection mode, counting incident photons with a known quantum efficiency. Here, we have investigated a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) operated as a photon counting mixer at telecommunication wavelength around 1.5 μm. This regime of operation combines excellent sensitivity of a photon counting detector with excellent spectral resolution given by the heterodyne technique. Advantageously, we have found that low local oscillator (LO) power of the order of hundreds of femtowatts to a few picowatts is sufficient for clear observation of the incident test signal with the sensitivity approaching the quantum limit. With further optimization, the required LO power could be significantly reduced, which is promising for many practical applications, such as the development of receiver matrices or recording ultralow signals at a level of less-than-one-photon per second. In addition to a traditional NbN-based SNSPD operated with normal incidence coupling, we also use detectors with a travelling wave geometry, where a NbN nanowire is placed on the top of a Si 3 N 4 nanophotonic waveguide. This approach is fully scalable and a large number of devices could be integrated on a single chip.

Abstract: Using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy we performed direct studies of the photoinduced suppression and recovery of the superconducting gap in a conventional BCS superconductor NbN. Both processes are found to be strongly temperature and excitation density dependent. The analysis of the data with the established phenomenological Rothwarf-Taylor model enabled us to determine the bare quasiparticle recombination rate, the Cooper pair-breaking rate and the electron-phonon coupling constant, λ=1.1±0.1, which is in excellent agreement with theoretical estimates.

Abstract: A quasi-optical superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer has been fabricated and measured in the terahertz (THz) frequency range of 0.5~2.52 THz. A receiver noise temperature of 2000 K at 2.52 THz has been obtained for the mixer without corrections. Also, the effect of a Parylene C anti-reflection (AR) coating on the silicon (Si) lens has been studied.

Abstract: We report the observation of an ultrafast photoresponse of a high-T(c), film to far-infrared radiation pulses. The response of a sample, consisting of a current-carrying structured YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) film cooled to liquid-nitrogen temperature, was studied by use of ultrashort laser pulses from an optically pumped far-infrared laser in the frequency range from 0.7 to 7 THz. We found that the response time was limited by the time resolution, 120 ps, of our electronic registration equipment.

Abstract: We report our studies on spectral sensitivity and time resolution of superconducting NbN thin film single-photon detectors (SPDs). Our SPDs exhibit an everimentally measured detection efficiencies (DE) from — 0.2% at 2=1550 nm up to —3% at lambda=405 nm wavelength for 10-nm film thickness devices and up to 3.5% at lambda=1550 nm for 3.5-nm film thickness devices. Spectral dependences of detection efficiency (DE) at 2=0.4 —3.0 pm range are presented. With variable optical delay setup, it is shown that NbN SPD potentially can resolve optical pulses with the repetition rate up to 10 GHz at least. The observed full width at the half maximum (FWHM) of the signal pulse is about 150-180 ps, limited by read-out electronics. The jitter of NbN SPD is measured to be —35 ps at optimum biasing.

Abstract: At the current stage of the heterodyne receiver technology, great attention is paid to the development of detector arrays and matrices comprising many detectors on a single wafer. However, any traditional THz detector (such as SIS, HEB, or Schottky diode) requires quite a noticeable amount of Local Oscillator (LO) power which scales with the matrix size, and the total amount of the LO power needed is much greater than that available from compact and handy solid state sources. Substantial reduction of the LO power requirement may be obtained with a photon-counting detector used as a mixer. This approach, mentioned earlier in [1,2] provides a number of advantages. Thus, sensitivity of such a detector would be at the quantum limit (because of the photon-counting nature of the detector) and just a few LO photons for the mixing would be required leading to a possible breakthrough in the matrix receiver development. In addition, the receiver could be easily tuned from the heterodyne to the direct detection mode without any loss in its sensitivity with the latter limited only by the quantum efficiency of the detector used. We demonstrate such a technique with the use of the Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector(SNSPD)[3] irradiated by both 1.5 μm LO with a tiny amount of power (from a few picowatts down to femtowatts) facing the detector, and the test signal with a power significantly less than that of the LO. The SNSPD was operated in the current mode and the bias current was slightly below its critical value. Irradiating the detector with either the LO or the signal source produced voltage pulses which are statistically evenly distributed and could be easily counted by a lab counter or oscilloscope. Irradiating the detector by the both lasers simultaneously produced pulses at the frequency f m which is the exact difference between the frequencies at which the two lasers operate. f m could be deduced form either counts statistics integrated over a sufficient time interval or with the help of an RF spectrum analyzer. In addition to the chip SNSPD with normal incidence coupling, we use the detectors with a travelling wave geometry design [4]. In this case a niobium nitride nanowire is placed on the top of a nanophotonic waveguide, thus increasing the efficient interaction length. Integrated device scheme allows us to measure the optical losses with high accuracy. Our approach is fully scalable and, along with a large number of devices integrated on a single chip can be adapted to the mid and far IR ranges. This work was supported in part by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, contract no. 14.B25.31.0007 and by RFBR grant # 16-32-00465. 1. Leaf A. Jiang and Jane X. Luu, ―Heterodyne detection with a weak local oscillator, Applied Optics Vol. 47, Issue 10, pp. 1486-1503 (2008) 2. Matsuo H. ―Requirements on Photon Counting Detectors for Terahertz Interferometry J Low Temp Phys (2012) 167:840–845 3. A. Semenov, G. Gol'tsman, A. Korneev, “Quantum detection by current carrying superconducting film”, Physica C, 352, pp. 349-356 (2001) 4. O. Kahl, S. Ferrari, V. Kovalyuk, G. N. Goltsman, A. Korneev, and W. H. P. Pernice, ―Waveguide integrated superconducting single-photon detectors with high internal quantum efficiency at telecom wavelengths., Sci. Rep., vol. 5, p. 10941, (2015).

Abstract: We report on noise temperature measurements for a NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron mixer at radiation frequencies between 0.9 THz and 1.2 THz. Radiation was coupled to the mixer, placed in a vacuum chamber of He cryostat, by means of a planar spiral antenna and a Si immersion lens. A backward-wave oscillator, tunable throughout the spectral range, delivered an output power of few 1.1W that was enough for optimum operation of the mixer. At 4.2 K ambient temperature and 1.025 THz radiation frequency, we obtained a receiver noise temperature of 1550 K despite of using a relatively noisy room-temperature amplifier at the intermediate frequency port. The noise temperature was fairly constant throughout the entire operation range and for intermediate frequencies from 1 GHz to 2 GHz.

Abstract: A backward-wave-tube (BWT) spectrometer-relaxometer is described that is designed for study of the relaxation characteristics of photoconductors in the wavelength range of 2-0.25 mm – in particular, to measure the relaxation times of the submillimeter photoconductivity of germanium in the range of 10[sup:-4]-10[sup:-9] sec and to determine from these data the concentration of compensating impurities of from 10[sup:10] to 10[sup:14] cm[sup:-3]. The instrument uses the beats of the oscillations of two BWTs and records the amplitude-frequency response of the specimen with variation of the beat frequency from 10[sup:4] to 10[sup:8] Hz with accumulation of the desired signal for less than or equal to1 sec by means of a quadrature synchronous detector. The beat frequency is stabilized and the quadrature voltages of the synchronous detector are formed by means of phase-locked loops.

Abstract: We investigate both antenna coupled and directly coupled HEB mixers at several LO frequencies within the range of 2.5 THz to 70 THz. H20 (2.5+10.7 THz), and CO2 (30 THz) gas discharge lasers are used as the local oscillators. The noise temperature of antenna coupled mixers is measured at LO frequencies of 2.5 THz, 3.8 THz, and 30 THz. The results for both antenna coupled and directly coupled mixer types are compared. The devices with in—plane dimensions of 5x5 ,um 2 are pumped by LO radiation at 10.7 THz. The directly coupled HEB demonstrates nearly flat dependence of responsivity on frequency in the range of 25+64 THz.

Abstract: Picosecond nonequilibrium and slow bolometric responses from a patterned high-Tc superconducting (HTS) film due toinfrared radiation were investigated using both modulation and pulse techniques. Measurements at A, = 0.85 [tm andA, = 10.6 lim have shown a similar behaviour of the response vs modulation frequency f. The responsivity of the HTS filmbased detector at f ..- 0.6-1 GHz is estimated to be 10-2 – 10-1 V/W.

Abstract: In this paper we report on the detection of new far-infrared laser lines from CH3Cl and CH3Br optically pumped with a continuously tunable high pressure CO2 laser. We found 80 new lines for CH3Cl and 9 new lines for CH3Br in the frequency region between 16 cm−1 and 41 cm−1, all due to stimulated Raman scattering. For the Raman gain regions bandwidths up to about 700 MHz were found. We also observed high intensity short far-infrared laser pulses of durations in the nanosecond regime.

Abstract: We present the results of noise temperature measurements of NbN phonon-cooled HEB mixers based on a 3.5 nm NbN film deposited on a high-resistivity Si substrate with a 200 nm – thick MgO buffer layer. The mixer element was integrated with a log-periodic spiral antenna. The noise temperature measurements were performed at 2.5 THz and at 3.8 THz local oscillator frequencies for the 3 µm x 0.2 µm active area devices. The best uncorrected receiver noise temperatures found for these frequencies are 1300 K and 3100 K, respectively. A water vapour discharge laser was used as the LO source. We also present the results of direct detection contribution to the measured Y-factor and of a possible error of noise temperature calculation. This error was more than 8% for the mixer with in-plane dimensions of 2.4 x 0.16 µm 2 at the optimal noise temperature point. The use of a mesh filter enabled us to avoid the effect of direct detection and decrease optical losses by 0.5 dB. The paper is concluded by the investigation results of the mixer polarization response. It was shown that the polarization can differ from the circular one at 3.8 THz by more than 2 dB.

Abstract: The electron heating effect in superconducting films is becoming very attractive for the development of THz range mixers because of the absence of frequency limitations inherent in the bolometric mechanism. However, the evidence for the spectral dependence of the position of optimal operating point has been found recently for NbN thin film devices 1.2 • The effect is presumably attributed to the variation in the absorption of radiation depending on the frequency. Since the resistive state is not spatially uniform the coupling efficiency of the mixer device with radiation can be different for frequencies larger than Zeilh and those smaller than 2Alh (d is the effective superconducting gap in the resistive state). To study the effect more thoroughly we have investigated the noise temperature of quasioptical NbN mixer device with broken hue tapered slot antenna in the frequency range 200-700 GHz. The device consists of several (5-10) parallel strips 1 jim wide and 6-7 tun thick made from NbN film on Si0 2 -Si 3 N 4 -Si membrane. The strips are connected with the gold contacts of the slot-line antenna which serves both as bias and IF leads. We used backward wave oscillators as LO sources and a standard hot/cold load technique for noise temperature measurements. The frequency dependence of noise temperature is mainly determined by two factors: frequency properties of the antenna and frequency dependence of the NbN film impedance. To separate both factors we monitored the frequency dependence of the device responsivity in the detector mode at a higher temperature within the superconducting transition where the impedance of NbN film is close to its normal resistance. In this case the impedance of the device itself is frequency independent. The experimental results will be reported at the Symposium. 1. G. Gollsman, S. Jacobsson, H. EkstrOm, B. Karasik, E. Kollberg, and E. Gershenzon, “Slot-line tapered antenna with NbN hot electron mixer for 300-360 GHz operation,” Proc of the 5th Int. Symp. on Space Terahertz Technology, pp. 209-213a, May 10-12,1994. 2. B.S. Karasik, G.N. Gol i tsman, B.M. Voronov, S.I. Svechnikov, E.M. Gershenzon, H. Ekstrom, S. Jacobsson, E. Kollberg, and K.S. Yngvesson, “Hot electron quasioptical NbN superconducting mixer,” presented at the ASC94, submitted to IEEE Trans. on Appl. Superconductivity.

Abstract: The time of electron-phonon interaction tau(eph) in YBaCuO films at low temperatures is studied. This is measured as the time of resistance relaxation in the resistive state of the superconducter, and is also determined from the increase in resistance under the action of radiation. Consistent results of these methods show that resistance relaxation in the resistive state is caused by cooling of the electron subsystem with respect to the phonon subsystem. The time tau(eph) is found to be inversely proportional to the temperature and comes to 80 ps when T = 1.6 K and 5 ps when T = 30 K. 6 refs.

Abstract: For the first time, measurements have been made on the electron energy relaxation time due to the electron--phonon interaction in films of the YBaCuO superconductor. The results indicate a significant intensification of the electron--phonon interaction in this compound as compared with normal superconducting metals.

Abstract: We report on a superconducting hot electron bolometer coupled to radiation via a broadband antenna. The bolometer, a structured NbN film, was patterned on a thin dielectric membrane between terminals of a gold slotline antenna. We investigated the response to submillimeter radiation (wave-lengths ∼ 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm) in the fundamental Gaussian mode. We found that the directivity of the antenna was constant within a factor of 2.5 through the whole experimental range. The noise equivalent power of the bolometer at 119 µm was ∼ 3 · 10−13 W/Hz1/2; a time constant of ∼ 160 ps was estimated.

Abstract: We report the results of the bandwidth measurements of NbN hot-electron bolometers, perfomied in the terahertz frequency domain at 140 GHz and 660 GHz and in time domain in the optical range at the wavelength of 395 nm.. Our studies were done on 3.5-nm-thick NbN films evaporated on sapphire substrates and patterned into ilin-size microbridges. In order to measure the gain bandwidth, we used two identical BWOs (140 or 660 GHz), one functioning as a local oscillator and the other as a signal source. The bandwidth we achieved was 3.5-4 GHz at 4.2 K with the optimal LO and DC biases. Time-domain measurements with a resolution below 300 fs were performed using an electro-optic sampling system, in the temperature range between 4.2 K to 9 K at various values of the bias current and optical power. The obtained response time of the NbN hot-electron bolometer to —100- fs-wide Ti:sapphire laser pulses was about 27 ps, what corresponds to the 5.9 GHz gain bandwidth.

Abstract: The creation of low noise heterodyne receivers for frequencies above 1 THz is in the urgentneed for radio astronomy, laser spectroscopy, plasma diagnostic, etc. In this paper we discussthe nonlinear effect related to hot electrons in superconductors, and their potential use in lownoise submilimeter wave mixer. We also discuss results achieved so far as well as possible futuredevelopments.

Abstract: An investigation was made of the dependences of the intensities of photothermal ionization lines of excited states of shallow impurities in Ge on the intensity of impurity-absorbed background radiation and on temperature. The results obtained were used to find the density and lifetime of carriers of lower excited states of the impurity centers. The lifetimes of the excited states of donors in Ge were 10-~-10-" sec and the lifetime of the lower excited state of acceptors was -lo-' sec. In the presence of background radiation the population of the excited states was very different from the equilibrium value and, in particular, a population inversion of the 2pk, state relative to the 3p0 and 3s states was observed.

Abstract: The kinetics of binding of free carriers'into excitons under stationary and nonstationary conditions is studied by investigating the submillimeter photoconductivity of Ge in a wide range of temperatures and of excitation levels. It is shown that the absolute values and the temperature dependence of the binding cross section (o- T-'.' ) can be satisfactorily described by the cascade recombination theory. The value of o and its temperature dependence differ significantly from the cross sections, measured in the same manner, for capture by attracting small impurities. Under nonstationary conditions, just as in the case of recombination with shallow impurities, a signifi- cant role is played by the sticking of the carriers in highly excited states.

Abstract: We report on transient measurements of electron energy relaxation in NbN films with 300-fs time resolution. Using an electro-optic sampling technique, we have studied the photoresponse of 3.5-nm-thick NbN films deposited on sapphire substrates and exposed to 100-fs-wide optical pulses. Our experimental data analysis was based on the two-temperature model and has shown that in our films at the superconducting transition 10.5 K the inelastic electron-phonon scattering time was about (111}+-__.2) ps. This response time indicated that the maximum intermediate-frequency band of a NbN hot-electron phonon-cooled mixer should reach (16+41-3) GHz if one eliminates the bolometric phonon-heating effect. We have suggested several ways to increase the effectiveness of phonon cooling to achieve the above intrinsic value of the NbN mixer bandwidth.

Abstract: In this paper we focus mainly on the investigation of the performance of a quasi-optical (planar log-spiral antenna) phonon-cooled NbN superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer, which is cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K cryocooler, at 500 and 850 GHz frequency bands. The mixer's noise performance, stability of IF output power, and local oscillator (LO) power requirement are characterized for three NbN superconducting HEB devices of different sizes. The transmission characteristics of Mylar and Zitex films with incidence waves of an elliptical polarization are also examined by measuring the mixer's noise temperature. The lowest receiver noise temperatures (with no corrections) of 750 and 1100 K are measured at 500 and 850 GHz, respectively. Experimental results also demonstrate that the bigger the HEB device is, the higher the stability of IF output power becomes.

Abstract: A method for the reconstruction of microstructural properties of an oil-bearing rock from the spectral dependence of the transmission factor of submillimeter waves is proposed.

Abstract: We describe a novel method of operation of the HEB direct detector for use with a Fourier Transform Spectrometer. Instead of elevating the bath temperature, we have measured the RF response of waveguide HEB mixers by applying microwave radiation to select appropriate bias conditions. In our experiment, a microwave signal is injected into the HEB mixer via its IF port. By choosing an appropriate injection level, the device can be operated close to the desired operating point. Furthermore, we have shown that both thermal biasing and microwave injection can reproduce the same spectral response of the HEB mixer. However, with the use of microwave injection, there is no need to wait for the mixer to reach thermal equilibrium, so characterisation can be done in less time. Also, the liquid helium consumption for our wet cryostat is also reduced. We have demonstrated that the signalto-noise ratio of the FTS measurements can be improved with microwave injection.

Abstract: The effect of heating of electrons relative to phonons is observed and investigated in a superconducting film that is made resistive by current and by an external magnetic field. The effect is manifested by an increase of the film resistance under the influence of the electromagnetic radiation, and is not selective in the frequency band 10^10-10^15 Hz. The independence of the effect of frequency under conditions of strong scattering by static defects is attributed to the decisive role of electron-electron collisions in the distribution function. The experimentally obtained characteristic time of resistance variation near the superconducting transition corresponds to the relaxation time of the order parameter, while at lower temperatures and fields it corresponds to the time of the inelastic electron-phonon interaction.

Abstract: The effect of electromagnetic radiation on thin superconducting films of Nb with a large number of static defects is investigated experimentally for the case where the film is in the resistive state due to an applied magnetic field and transport current. The results obtained are found to be well described by a model of spatially homogeneous electron heating. It is noted that the results obtained here for Nb films are also valid for Al, NbN, and MoRe films.

Abstract: The spectral dependence of the quantum efficiency of superconducting NbN single-photon detectors integrated with quarter-wave resonators based on Si3N4, SiO2, and SiO layers has been studied.

Abstract: The spectrum of the submillimeter photoconductivity of n-GaAs and n-Ge in a magnetic field up to 60 kOe at helium temperatures was investigated. A large number of lines due to transitions between excited states of the donors have been investigated, and the measurement results were used to determine a number of levels of the energy spectrum in a wide range of magnetic fields. For GaAs, these data are compared with calculations of the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom in magnetic fields up to -2X lo9 Oe. For the donors in Ge, the energy spectrum is investigated at different orientations of the magnetic field relative to the crystallographic axes (H 11 [loo], [I 1 I], [110]), and these results are also compared with the corresponding calculations.

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) 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 â‰<aa> 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.

Abstract: The spectrum of hole resonances in pure p-Ge for submillimetre in quantizing magnetic fields has been studied and identified. Measurements of photoconductivity spectra of p-Ge were made in the wave range lambda = 2-0.3 mm at temp. of 4.2-15 deg K in magnetic fields H up to 40 Measurements at various frequencies showed that the position of a series of characteristic resonances depends on the frequency of the illumination. This is in line with theoretical conclusions about the effective mass of the carriers increasing with rise in the magnetic field as a result of the interaction of the edge of the valency band with the split spin-orbital interaction of the sub 7 exp + band and the conduction band. The relative intensity of the quantum resonance lines of the free holes depends on the excitation conditions.

Abstract: We develop and study a hot-electron bolometer mixer made of a two-layer NbN–Au film in situ deposited on a silicon substrate. The double-sideband noise temperature of the mixer is 750 K at a frequency of 2.5 THz. The conversion efficiency measurements show that at the superconducting transition temperature, the intermediate-frequency bandwidth amounts to about 6.5 GHz for a mixer 0.112 μm long. These record-breaking characteristics are attributed to the improved contacts between a sensitive element and a helical antenna and are reached due to using the in situ deposition of NbN and Au layers at certain stages of the process.

Abstract: In this paper, we report the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB (hot electron bolome-ter) mixer measured at 500 GHz. The quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer is cryogenically cooled bya 4-K close-cycled refrigerator. Its receiver noise temperature and conversion gain are thoroughly investigatedfor different LO pumping levels and dc biases. The lowest receiver noise temperature is found to be approxi-mately 1200 K, and reduced to about 445 K after correcting theloss of the measurement system. The stabilityof the mixer’s IF output power is also demonstrated.

Abstract: We review the latest developments, research, and radioastronomy applications of hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers operated in the terahertz waveband. The physical principles of operation of terahertz HEB mixers are presented, their manufacturing from ultrathin NbN films, the main HEB-mixer parameters and their measurement techniques are discussed, and practical terahertz radioastronomy projects based on heterodyne receivers with HEB mixers are considered.

Abstract: We propose a novel antenna-coupled superconducting bolometer based on electron-heating in the resistive state. A short narrow ultrathin super- conducting film strip (sized approximately 4x1x0.01 pm 3 ), which is in good thermal contact with the thermostat, serves as a resistive load for infrared or submillimeter current. In contrast to conventional isothermal super- conducting bolometers electron-heating ones can have a higher sensitivity which grows when filni. thickness is reduced. Response time of electron- heating bolometer does not depend on heat transfer from the film to the enviroment. To calculate the sensitivity (NEP), we have used experimental data on wideband Al, Nb and NbN bolometers which have the same un- derlying physical mechanism. The bolom.eters have been made in the form of a structure composed of a number of long narrow strips. The values of for Al, NEP have been found to be 1.5 . 113 -16 1 140 -15 ) and 2 . 10 – 14werT,-1/2 – Nb and NbN respectively. In the paper, the prospects are also discussed of improving the picosecond YBaCuO detector, developed recently. NEP value of the detector, if combined with a microantenna, can reach the order of 10- •ilz-v2.

Abstract: Transition from microwave enhancement of supercurrent to superconductivity suppression is investigated in impure superconductors. It is demonstrated that the frequency range of the enhancement effect narrows with the decrease of the electron mean free path, l, and at l ⩽ 1 nm electron heating is observed in the whole frequency range. Dependences of frequency boundaries on l are explained by taking into account strong electron-electron interaction in impure metals.

Abstract: The transient voltage response in both epitaxial and granular YBaCuO thin films to 80 ps pulses of YAG∶Nd laser radiation of wavelength 0.63 and 1.54 μm was studied. In the normal and resistive states both types of films demonstrate two components: a nonequilibrium picosecond component and a bolometric nanosecond one. The normalized amplitudes are almost the same for all films. In the superconducting state we observed a kinetic inductive response and two-component shape after integration. The normalized amplitude of the response in granular films is up to five orders of magnitude larger than in epitaxial films. We interpret the nonequilibrium response in terms of a suppression of the order parameter by the excess of quasiparticles followed by the change of resistance in the normal and resistive states or kinetic inductance in the superconducting state. The sharp rise of inductive response in granular films is explained both by a diminishing of the cross section for current percolation through the disordered network of Josephson weak links and by a decrease of condensate density in neighboring regions.

Abstract: We report an effective quantum efficiency of 340, responsivity >200 A W-1 (>104 V W-1) and response time of 27±5 ps at temperatures close to the superconducting transition for NbN superconducting hot-electron photodetectors (HEPs) in the near-infrared and optical ranges. Our studies were performed on a few nm thick NbN films deposited on sapphire substrates and patterned into µm-size multibridge detector structures, incorporated into a coplanar transmission line. The time-resolved photoresponse was studied by means of subpicosecond electro-optic sampling with 100 fs wide laser pulses. The quantum efficiency and responsivity studies of our photodetectors were conducted using an amplitude-modulated infrared beam, fibre-optically coupled to the device. The observed picosecond response time and the very high efficiency and sensitivity of the NbN HEPs make them an excellent choice for infrared imaging photodetectors and input optical-to-electrical transducers for superconducting digital circuits.

Abstract: Results of development of single-photon receiving systems of visible, infrared and terahertz range based on thin-film superconducting nanostructures are presented. The receiving systems are produced on the basis of superconducting nanostructures, which function by means of hot-electron phenomena.

Abstract: We consider the current status of research in the development of a submillimeter and far-infrared receiving instrument and propose promising solutions for the receivers of the spaceborne telescope “Millimetron,” which allow one to realize comprehensively the opportunities given by this international project administrated by the Astrospace Center of the P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Abstract: Complex study of transport properties of impure NbC films with the electron mean free pathl=0.6–13 nm show the crucial role of the electron-phonon-impurity interference (EPII). In the temperature range 20–70 K we found the interference correction to resistivity proportional to T2 and to the residual resistivity of the film. Using the comprehensive theory of EPII, we determine the electron coupling with transverse phonons and calculate the electron inelastic scattering time. Direct measurements of the inelastic electron scattering time using a response to a high-frequency amplitude modulated cw radiation agree well with the theory.