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Loudkov, D., Tong, C. - Y. E., Blundell, R., Kaurova, N., Grishina, E., Voronov, B., et al. (2005). An investigation of the performance of the superconducting HEB mixer as a function of its RF embedding impedance. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 15(2), 472–475.
Abstract: We have conducted an investigation of the optimal embedding impedance for a waveguide superconducting hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixer. Three mixer chip designs for 800 GHz, offering nominal embedding resistances of 70 /spl Omega/, 35 /spl Omega/, and 15 /spl Omega/, have been developed. We used both High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software and scale model impedance measurements in the design process. We subsequently fabricated HEB mixers to these designs using 3-4 nm thick NbN thin film. Receiver noise temperature measurements and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) scans were performed to determine the optimal combination of embedding impedance and normal-state resistance for a 50 Ohm IF load impedance. A receiver noise temperature of 440 K was measured at a local oscillator frequency 850 GHz for a mixer with normal state resistance of 62 /spl Omega/ incorporated into a circuit offering a nominal embedding impedance of 70 /spl Omega/. We conclude from our data that, for low noise operation, the normal state resistance of the HEB mixer element should be close to the embedding impedance of the mixer mount.
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Pearlman, A., Cross, A., Slysz, W., Zhang, J., Verevkin, A., Currie, M., et al. (2005). Gigahertz counting rates of NbN single-photon detectors for quantum communications. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 15(2), 579–582.
Abstract: We report on the GHz counting rate and jitter of our nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). The devices were patterned in 4-nm-thick and about 100-nm-wide NbN meander stripes and covered a 10-/spl mu/m/spl times/10-/spl mu/m area. We were able to count single photons at both the visible and infrared telecommunication wavelengths at rates of over 2 GHz with a timing jitter of below 18 ps. We also present the model for the origin of the SSPD switching dynamics and jitter, based on the time-delay effect in the phase-slip-center formation mechanism during the detector photoresponse process. With further improvements in our readout electronics, we expect that our SSPDs will reach counting rates of up to 10 GHz. An integrated quantum communications receiver based on two fiber-coupled SSPDs and operating at 1550-nm wavelength is also presented.
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Yang, J. K. W., Dauler, E., Ferri, A., Pearlman, A., Verevkin, A., Gol’tsman, G., et al. (2005). Fabrication development for nanowire GHz-counting-rate single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 15(2), 626–630.
Abstract: We have developed a fabrication process for GHz-counting-rate, single-photon, high-detection-efficiency, NbN, nanowire detectors. We have demonstrated two processes for the device patterning, one based on the standard polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) organic positive-tone electron-beam resist, and the other based on the newer hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) negative-tone spin-on-glass resist. The HSQ-based process is simple and robust, providing high resolution and the prospect of high fill-factors. Initial testing results show superconductivity in the films, and suggest that the devices exhibit photosensitivity.
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Korneev, A., Matvienko, V., Minaeva, O., Milostnaya, I., Rubtsova, I., Chulkova, G., et al. (2005). Quantum efficiency and noise equivalent power of nanostructured, NbN, single-photon detectors in the wavelength range from visible to infrared. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 15(2), 571–574.
Abstract: We present our studies on the quantum efficiency (QE) and the noise equivalent power (NEP) of the latest-generation, nanostructured, superconducting, single-photon detectors (SSPDs) in the wavelength range from 0.5 to 5.6 /spl mu/m, operated at temperatures in the 2.0- to 4.2-K range. Our detectors are designed as 4-nm-thick and 100-nm-wide NbN meander-shaped stripes, patterned by electron-beam lithography and cover a 10/spl times/10-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ active area. The best-achieved QE at 2.0 K for 1.55-/spl mu/m photons is 17%, and QE for 1.3-/spl mu/m infrared photons reaches its saturation value of /spl sim/30%. The SSPD NEP at 2.0 K is as low as 5/spl times/10/sup -21/ W/Hz/sup -1/2/. Our nanostructured SSPDs, operated at 2.0 K, significantly outperform their semiconducting counterparts, and, together with their GHz counting rate and picosecond timing jitter, they are devices-of-choice for practical quantum key distribution systems and free-space (even interplanetary) quantum optical communications.
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Gol’tsman, G. N., Smirnov, K., Kouminov, P., Voronov, B., Kaurova, N., Drakinsky, V., et al. (2003). Fabrication of nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 192–195.
Abstract: Fabrication of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors, based on the hotspot effect is presented. The hotspot formation arises in an ultrathin and submicrometer-width superconductor stripe and, together with the supercurrent redistribution, leads to the resistive detector response upon absorption of a photon. The detector has a meander structure to maximally increase its active area and reach the highest detection efficiency. Main processing steps, leading to efficient devices, sensitive in 0.4-5 /spl mu/m wavelength range, are presented. The impact of various processing steps on the performance and operational parameters of our detectors is discussed.
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Kawamura, J., Tong, C. - Y. E., Blundell, R., Papa, D. C., Hunter, T. R., Patt, F., et al. (2001). Terahertz-frequency waveguide NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 11(1), 952–954.
Abstract: We have developed a low-noise waveguide heterodyne receiver for operation near 1 THz using phonon-cooled NbN hot-electron bolometers. The mixer elements are submicron-sized microbridges of 4 nm-thick NbN film fabricated on a quartz substrate. Operating at a bath temperature of 4.2 K, the double-sideband receiver noise temperature is 760 K at 1.02 THz and 1100 K at 1.26 THz. The local oscillator is provided by solid-state sources, and power measured at the source is less than 1 /spl mu/W. The intermediate frequency bandwidth exceeds 2 GHz. The receiver was used to make the first ground-based heterodyne detection of a celestial spectroscopic line above 1 THz.
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Gerecht, E., Musante, C. F., Zhuang, Y., Yngvesson, K. S., Gol’tsman, G. N., Voronov, B. M., et al. (1999). NbN hot electron bolometric mixerss—a new technology for low-noise THz receivers. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 47(12), 2519–2527.
Abstract: New advances in hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have recently resulted in record-low receiver noise temperatures at terahertz frequencies. We have developed quasi-optically coupled NbN HEB mixers and measured noise temperatures up to 2.24 THz, as described in this paper. We project the anticipated future performance of such receivers to have even lower noise temperature and local-oscillator power requirement as well as wider gain and noise bandwidths. We introduce a proposal for integrated focal plane arrays of HEB mixers that will further increase the detection speed of terahertz systems.
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Nebosis, R. S., Heusinger, M. A., Schatz, W., Renk, K. F., Gol’tsman, G. N., Karasik, B. S., et al. (1993). Ultrafast photoresponse of a structured YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin film to ultrashort FIR laser pulses. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 3(1), 2160–2162.
Abstract: The authors have investigated the photoinduced voltage response of a current-carrying structured YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin film to ultrashort far-infrared (FIR) laser pulses in the frequency range from 0.7 THz to 7 THz. The detector has shown an almost constant sensitivity of 1 mV/W and a noise equivalent power of less than 5*10/sup -7/ W/ square root Hz. The temperature dependence of the decay time of the detector signal was studied for temperatures around the transition temperature of the film ( approximately 80 K). For a detector temperature where dR/dT had its maximum, the authors observed bolometric signals with decay times of about 2 ns, and for lower temperatures they observed nonbolometric signals with decay times of approximately 120 ps; the duration of the nonbolometric signals was limited by the time resolution of the electronic registration equipment.
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Semenov, A. D., Goghidze, I. G., Gol’tsman, G. N., Sergeev, A. V., Aksaev, E. E., & Gershenzon, E. M. (1993). Non-equilibrium quasiparticle response to radiation and bolometric effect in YBaCuO films. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 3(1), 2132–2135.
Abstract: The voltage photoresponse of structured current biased YBCO films on different substrates to 20-ps laser pulses of 0.63- mu m and 1.54- mu m wavelengths and to continuously modulated radiation of 2-mm wavelength is measured to temperatures around Tc. Fast picosecond decay of the response to pulsed radiation is followed by slow exponential relaxation with a nanosecond characteristic time depending on the substrate material and film dimensions. The slow component does not depend on wavelength and is attributed to the bolometric effect, while the magnitude of the fast component associated with nonequilibrium response rises with wavelength. More than an order-of-magnitude increase of the nonequilibrium response is seen from near-infrared to millimeter-wave range. This dependence plausibly reflects the low efficiency of multiplication of photoexcited electrons in YBaCuO compared to conventional superconductors.
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Gershenzon, E. M., Gol’tsman, G. N., Gousev, Y. P., Elant’ev, A. I., & Semenov, A. D. (1991). Electromagnetic radiation mixer based on electron heating in resistive state of superconductive Nb and YBaCuO films. IEEE Trans. Magn., 27(2), 1317–1320.
Abstract: A theory of an electron-heating mixer which makes it possible to calculate all the characteristics of the device is developed. It is shown that positive conversion gain is possible for such a mixer in the millimeter to near-infrared wavelength range. The dynamic range and the optimum heterodyne power can be selected from a very wide interval by varying the mixing element volume. Measurements made for Nb within the frequency range of 120-750 GHz confirm the theory. The conversion loss obtained at T=1.6 K and normalized to the element reaches 0.3 dB in the intermediate frequency band of 40 MHz; the possible noise temperature is 50 K. The estimation of noise temperature and output band for YBaCuO at T=77 yields 200 K and more than 10 GHz, respectively.
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