Gershenzon, E. M., Gershenson, M. E., Goltsman, G. N., Karasik, B. S., Lyulkin, A. M., & Semenov, A. D. (1989). Fast-response superconducting electron bolometer. Pisma v Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, 15(3), 88–92.
Abstract: The general design, operation, and performance characteristics of fast-response electronic bolometers using a thin superconducting Nb film on a leucosapphire substrate are briefly reviewed. The volt-watt sensitivity of the bolometrs is 2,000-200,000 V/W, the operating temperature is 1.6 K, and the time constant is 4-4.5 ns.
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Nikogosyan, A. S., Martirosyan, R. M., Hakhoumian, A. A., Makaryan, A. H., Tadevosyan, V. R., Goltsman, G. N., et al. (2019). Effect of absorption on the efficiency of terahertz radiation generation in the metal waveguide partially filled with nonlinear crystal LiNbO3, DAST or ZnTe. J. Contemp. Phys., 54(1), 97–104.
Abstract: The influence of terahertz (THz) radiation absorption on the efficiency of generation of coherent THz radiation in the system ‘nonlinear-optical crystal partially filling the cross section of a rectangular metal waveguide’ has been investigated. The efficiency of the nonlinear frequency conversion of optical laser radiation to the THz range depends on the loss in the system and the fulfillment of the phase-matching (FM) condition in a nonlinear crystal. The method of partially filling of a metal waveguide with a nonlinear optical crystal is used to ensure phase matching. The phase matching is achieved by numerical determination of the thickness of the nonlinear crystal, that is the degree of partial filling of the waveguide. The attenuation of THz radiation caused by losses both in the metal walls of the waveguide and in the crystal was studied, taking into account the dimension of the cross section of the waveguide, the degree of partial filling, and the dielectric constant of the crystal. It is shown that the partial filling of the waveguide with a nonlinear crystal results in an increase in the efficiency of generation of THz radiation by an order of magnitude, owing to the decrease in absorption.
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Tovpeko, N. A., Trifonov, A. V., Semenov, A. V., Antipov, S. V., Kaurova, N. S., Titova, N. A., et al. (2019). Bandwidth performance of a THz normal metal TiN bolometer-mixer. In Proc. 30th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 102–103).
Abstract: We report on the bandwidth performance of the normal metal TiN bolometer-mixer on top of an Al 2 O 3 substrate, which is capable to operate in a wide range of bath temperatures from 77 K – 300 K. The choice of the combination TiN / Al 2 O 3 is related to an advanced heat transport between the film and the substrate in this pair and the sufficient temperature coefficient of resistance. The data were taken at 132.5 – 145.5 GHz with two BWOs as a signal and an LO source. Measurements were taken on TiN films of different thickness starting from 20 nm down to 5 nm coupled into a spiral Au antenna, which improves matching of incoming radiation with the thin TiN fim. Our experiments demonstrate effective heat coupling from a TiN thin film to an Al 2 O 3 substrate (111) boosting gain bandwidth (GB) of TiN bolometer up to 6 GHz for 5 nm thin film. Current results indicate weak temperature dependence of GB on the bath temperature of the TiN bolometer. Theoretical estimations of GB performance meet with experimental data for 5 nm thin TiN films.
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Baryshev, A. M., Wild, W., Likhachev, S. F., Vdovin, V. F., Goltsman, G. N., & Kardashev, N. S. (2009). Main parameters and instrumentation of Millimetron space mission. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (108).
Abstract: Millimetron (official RosKosmos name ”Spectrum-M”) is a part of ambitious program called Spectrum intended to cover the whole electromagnetic spectrum with world class facilities. It is an approved mission included in Russian space program with the launch date in 2017..2019 time frame. The Millimetron satellite has a deployable 12 m diameter antenna with inner solid 4..6 m dish and a rim of petals. The mirror design is largely based on Radioastron mission concept that will be launched in 2009. If the antenna is passively cooled by radiation to open space, it would operate at approx. 50 K surface temperature, due to presence of a deployable three layer radiation screen. As a goal, there is a consideration of active cooling of antenna to 4 K, but this will depend on resources available to the project. Lagrangian libration point L2 considered for Millimetron orbit. There are four groups of scientific instruments envisioned: SVLBI instruments Space-Earth VLBI. It will allow to achieve unprecedented spatial resolution. Millimetron mission will attempt to achieve a mm/submm wave SVLBI. For that purpose, a SVLBI instrument covering selected ALMA bands and a standard VLBI band is envisioned, accompanied by a maser reference oscillator, a data digitizing and memory system, and a high speed data transmission link to ground. The ALMA bands can be extended to cover water lines if detector technology allows. Type of detector – heterodyne. Photometer/polarimeter. Recent progress in direct detector cameras with low spectral resolution, allows to propose a large format (5-10 kPixel) photometer camera on board of Millimetron mission. This camera can cover 0.1 – 2 THz region (with adequate amount of pixels per each subband). Wide band moderate resolution imaging spectrometer. Wide band moderate R = 1000 imaging spectrometer type instrument similar to SPICA SAFARI is planned, taking advantage of large cooled dish. It will cover the adequate spectral range allowable by antenna and will also work below 1 THz, as no ground instrument can have a cold main dish. High resolution spectrometer. For high resolution spectroscopy a heterodyne instrument is proposed, conceptually similar to HIFI on Herschel. This instrument will cover interesting frequency spots in 0.5..4 THz frequency range (using central part of antenna for higher frequency). It is sure that advances in LO and mixer technology will allow this frequency coverage.
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Ozhegov, R. V., Gorshkov, K. N., Vachtomin, Y. B., Smirnov, K. V., Finkel, M. I., Goltsman, G. N., et al. (2014). Terahertz imaging system based on superconducting heterodyne integrated receiver. In C. Corsi, & F. Sizov (Eds.), Proc. THz and Security Applications (pp. 113–125). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Abstract: The development of terahertz imaging instruments for security systems is on the cutting edge of terahertz technology. We are developing a THz imaging system based on a superconducting integrated receiver (SIR). An SIR is a new type of heterodyne receiver based on an SIS mixer integrated with a flux-flow oscillator (FFO) and a harmonic mixer which is used for phase-locking the FFO. Employing an SIR in an imaging system means building an entirely new instrument with many advantages compared to traditional systems.
In this project we propose a prototype THz imaging system using an 1 pixel SIR and 2D scanner. At a local oscillator frequency of 500 GHz the best noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of the SIR is 10 mK at an integration time of 1 s and a detection bandwidth of 4 GHz. The scanner consists of two rotating flat mirrors placed in front of the antenna consisting of a spherical primary reflector and an aspherical secondary reflector. The diameter of the primary reflector is 0.3 m. The operating frequency of the imaging system is 600 GHz, the frame rate is 0.1 FPS, the scanning area is 0.5 × 0.5 m2, the image resolution is 50 × 50 pixels, the distance from an object to the scanner was 3 m. We have obtained THz images with a spatial resolution of 8 mm and a NETD of less than 2 K.
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Tretyakov, I., Kaurova, N., Voronov, B. M., & Goltsman, G. N. (2018). About effect of the temperature operating conditions on the noise temperature and noise bandwidth of the terahertz range NbN hot-electron bolometers. In Proc. 29th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (113).
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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Tarkhov, M., Morozov, D., Mauskopf, P., Seleznev, V., Korneev, A., Kaurova, N., et al. (2006). Single photon counting detector for THz radioastronomy. In Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 119–122).
Abstract: In this paper we present the results of the research on the superconducting NbN-ultrathin-film single- photon detectors (SSPD) which are capable to detect single quanta in middle IR range. The detection mechanism is based on the hotspot formation in quasi-two-dimensional superconducting structures upon photon absorption. Spectral measurements showed that up to 5.7 gm wavelength (52 THz) the SSPD exhibits single-photon sensitivity. Reduction of operation temperature to 1.6 K allowed us to measure quantum efficiency of -4% at 60 THz. Although further decrease of the operation temperature far below 1 K does not lead to any significant increase of quantum efficiency. We expect that the improvement of the SSPD's performance at reduced operation temperature will make SSPD a practical detector with high characteristics for much lower THz frequencies as well.
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Trifonov, A., Tong, C. - Y. E., Lobanov, Y., Kaurova, N., Blundell, R., & Goltsman, G. (2016). Gap frequency and photon absorption in a hot electron bolometer. In Proc. 27th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (121).
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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Rath, P., Vetter, A., Kovalyuk, V., Ferrari, S., Kahl, O., Nebel, C., et al. (2016). Travelling-wave single-photon detectors integrated with diamond photonic circuits: operation at visible and telecom wavelengths with a timing jitter down to 23 ps. In J. - E. Broquin, & G. N. Conti (Eds.), Integrated Optics: Devices, Mat. Technol. XX (Vol. 9750, pp. 135–142). Spie.
Abstract: We report on the design, fabrication and measurement of travelling-wave superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) integrated with polycrystalline diamond photonic circuits. We analyze their performance both in the near-infrared wavelength regime around 1600 nm and at 765 nm. Near-IR detection is important for compatibility with the telecommunication infrastructure, while operation in the visible wavelength range is relevant for compatibility with the emission line of silicon vacancy centers in diamond which can be used as efficient single-photon sources. Our detectors feature high critical currents (up to 31 μA) and high performance in terms of efficiency (up to 74% at 765 nm), noise-equivalent power (down to 4.4×10-19 W/Hz1/2 at 765 nm) and timing jitter (down to 23 ps).
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Goltsman, G. (1972). Simple method for stabilizing power of submillimetric spectrometer. Pribory i Tekhnika Eksperimenta, (1), 136.
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