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| Author |
Tong, C. Edward; Trifonov, Andrey; Blundell, Raymond; Shurakov, Alexander; Gol’tsman, Gregory |
| Title |
A digital terahertz power meter based on an NbN thin film |
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Abstract |
| Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
| Volume |
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Issue |
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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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1366 |
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Lusche, R.; Semenov, A.; Korneeva, Y.; Trifonov, A.; Korneev, A.; Gol'tsman, G.; Hübers, H.-W. |
| Title |
Effect of magnetic field on the photon detection in thin superconducting meander structures |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Phys. Rev. B |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. Rev. B |
| Volume |
89 |
Issue |
10 |
Pages |
104513 (1 to 7) |
| Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
| Abstract |
We have studied the influence of an externally applied magnetic field on the photon and dark count rates of meander-type niobium nitride superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. Measurements have been performed at a temperature of 4.2 K, and magnetic fields up to 250 mT have been applied perpendicularly to the meander plane. While photon count rates are field independent at weak applied fields, they show a strong dependence at fields starting from approximately ±25 mT. This behavior, as well as the magnetic field dependence of the dark count rates, is in good agreement with the recent theoretical model of vortex-assisted photon detection and spontaneous vortex crossing in narrow superconducting lines. However, the local reduction of the superconducting free energy due to photon absorption, which is the fitting parameter in the model, increases much slower with the photon energy than the model predicts. Furthermore, changes in the free-energy during photon counts and dark counts depend differently on the current that flows through the meander. This indicates that photon counts and dark counts occur in different parts of the meander. |
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1098-0121 |
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1367 |
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Samsonova, A. S.; Zolotov, P. I.; Baeva, E. M.; Lomakin, A. I.; Titova, N. A.; Kardakova, A. I.; Goltsman, G. N. |
| Title |
Signatures of surface magnetic disorder in niobium films |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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31 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
1-5 |
| Keywords |
Nb films |
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We present our studies on the evolution of the normal and superconducting properties with thickness of thin Nb films with a low level of non-magnetic disorder ( kFl≈150 for the thickest film in the set). The analysis of the superconducting behavior points to the presence of magnetic moments, hidden in the native oxide on the surface of Nb films. Using the Abrikosov-Gorkov theory, we obtain the density of surface magnetic moments of 1013 cm −2 , which is in agreement with the previously reported data for Nb films. |
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1051-8223 |
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1792 |
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Peltonen, J. T.; Astafiev, O. V.; Korneeva, Y. P.; Voronov, B. M.; Korneev, A. A.; Charaev, I. M.; Semenov, A. V.; Golt'sman, G. N.; Ioffe, L. B.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Tsai, J. S. |
| Title |
Coherent flux tunneling through NbN nanowires |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2013 |
Publication |
Phys. Rev. B |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. Rev. B |
| Volume |
88 |
Issue |
22 |
Pages |
220506 (1 to 5) |
| Keywords |
NbN nanowires |
| Abstract |
We demonstrate evidence of coherent magnetic flux tunneling through superconducting nanowires patterned in a thin highly disordered NbN film. The phenomenon is revealed as a superposition of flux states in a fully metallic superconducting loop with the nanowire acting as an effective tunnel barrier for the magnetic flux, and reproducibly observed in different wires. The flux superposition achieved in the fully metallic NbN rings proves the universality of the phenomenon previously reported for InOx. We perform microwave spectroscopy and study the tunneling amplitude as a function of the wire width, compare the experimental results with theories, and estimate the parameters for existing theoretical models. |
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1098-0121 |
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1369 |
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Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Li, S. L.; Zhou, K. M.; Shi, S. C.; Gao, J. R.; Goltsman, G. N. |
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Measurement of the spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled superconducting hot electron bolometers |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2013 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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23 |
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3 |
Pages |
2300804-2300804 |
| Keywords |
NbN HEB detector |
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Measured spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEBs) often drops dramatically at frequencies that are still within the frequency range of interest (e.g., ~ 5 THz). This is inconsistent with the implied low receiver noise temperatures from the same measurements. To understand this discrepancy, we exhaustively test and calibrate the thermal sources used in Fourier transform spectrometer measurements. We first investigate the absolute emission spectrum of high-pressure Hg arc lamp, then measure the spectral response of two spiral-antenna coupled NbN HEBs with a Martin-Puplett interferometer as spectrometer and 77 K blackbody as broadband signal source. The measured absolute emission spectrum of Hg arc lamp is proportional to frequency, corresponding to an equivalent blackbody temperature of 4000 K at 1 THz, 1500 K at 3 THz, and 800 K at 5 THz, respectively. Measured spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled NbN HEBs, corrected for air absorption, is nearly flat in the frequency range of 0.5-4 THz, consistent with simulated coupling efficiency between HEB and spiral-antenna. These results explain the discrepancy, and prove that spiral-antenna coupled superconducting NbN HEBs work well in a wide frequency range. In addition, this calibration method and these results are broadly applicable to other quasi-optical THz receivers. |
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1051-8223 |
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