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Bell, M., Sergeev, A., Mitin, V., Bird, J., Verevkin, A., & Gol'tsman, G. (2007). One-dimensional resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors. arXiv:0709.0709v1 [cond-mat.supr-con], , 1–11.
Abstract: We investigate competition between one- and two-dimensional topological excitations – phase slips and vortices – in formation of resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors in a wide temperature range below the mean-field transition temperature T(C0). The widths w = 100 nm of our ultrathin NbN samples is substantially larger than the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length ξ = 4nm and the fluctuation resistivity above T(C0) has a two-dimensional character. However, our data shows that the resistivity below T(C0) is produced by one-dimensional excitations, – thermally activated phase slip strips (PSSs) overlapping the sample cross-section. We also determine the scaling phase diagram, which shows that even in wider samples the PSS contribution dominates over vortices in a substantial region of current/temperature variations. Measuring the resistivity within seven orders of magnitude, we find that the quantum phase slips can only be essential below this level.
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Shurakov, A., Tong, C. -yu E., Grimes, P., Blundell, R., & Golt'sman, G. (2015). A microwave reflection readout scheme for hot electron bolometric direct detector. IEEE Trans. THz Sci. Technol., 5, 81–84.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose and present data from a fast THz detector based on the repurpose of hot electron bolometer mixers (HEB) fabricated from superconducting NbN thinfilm. This detector is essentially a traditional NbN bolometer element that operates under the influence of a microwave pump. The in-jected microwave power serves the dual purpose of enhancing the detector sensitivity and reading out the impedance changes of the device in response to incidentTHz radiation. We have measured an optical Noise Equivalent Power of 4 pW/ Hz for our detector at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. The measurement frequency was 0.83 THz and the modulation frequency was 1.48 kHz. The readout
scheme is versatile and facilitates both high-speed operation as well as multi-pixel applications.
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Lobanov, Y., Shcherbatenko, M., Finkel, M., Maslennikov, S., Semenov, A., Voronov, B. M., et al. (2015). NbN hot-electron-bolometer mixer for operation in the near-IR frequency range. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 25(3), 2300704 (1 to 4).
Abstract: Traditionally, hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers are employed for THz and “super-THz” heterodyne detection. To explore the near-IR spectral range, we propose a fiber-coupled NbN film based HEB mixer. To enhance the incident-light absorption, a quasi-antenna consisting of a set of parallel stripes of gold is used. To study the antenna effect on the mixer performance, we have experimentally studied a set of devices with different size of the Au stripe and spacing between the neighboring stripes. With use of the well-known isotherm technique we have estimated the absorption efficiency of the mixer, and the maximum efficiency has been observed for devices with the smallest pitch of the alternating NbN and NbN-Au stripes. Also, a proper alignment of the incident Eâƒ<2014>-field with respect to the stripes allows us to improve the coupling further. Studying IV-characteristics of the mixer under differently-aligned Eâƒ<2014>-field of the incident radiation, we have noticed a difference in their shape. This observation suggests that a difference exists in the way the two waves with orthogonal polarizations parallel and perpendicular Eâƒ<2014>-field to the stripes heat the electrons in the HEB mixer. The latter results in a variation in the electron temperature distribution over the HEB device irradiated by the two waves.
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Seliverstov, S., Maslennikov, S., Ryabchun, S., Finkel, M., Klapwijk, T. M., Kaurova, N., et al. (2015). Fast and sensitive terahertz direct detector based on superconducting antenna-coupled hot electron bolometer. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 25(3), 2300304.
Abstract: We characterize superconducting antenna-coupled hot-electron bolometers for direct detection of terahertz radiation operating at a temperature of 9.0 K. The estimated value of responsivity obtained from lumped-element theory is strongly different from the measured one. A numerical calculation of the detector responsivity is developed, using the Euler method, applied to the system of heat balance equations written in recurrent form. This distributed element model takes into account the effect of nonuniform heating of the detector along its length and provides results that are in better agreement with the experiment. At a signal frequency of 2.5 THz, the measured value of the optical detector noise equivalent power is 2.0 × 10-13 W · Hz-0.5. The value of the bolometer time constant is 35 ps. The corresponding energy resolution is about 3 aJ. This detector has a sensitivity similar to that of the state-of-the-art sub-millimeter detectors operating at accessible cryogenic temperatures, but with a response time several orders of magnitude shorter.
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Hovenier J.N., Adam A.J.L., Kašalynas I., Gao J.R., Klaassen T.O., Baryshev A., et al. (2006). Phase-locking on the beat signal of a two-mode 2.7 terahertz metal-metal quantum cascade laser. In Proc. Symp. IEEE/LEOS Benelux Chapter (pp. 125–128).
Abstract: We have studied the linewidth and phase-locking of a 2.7 THz quantum cascade laser by using a superconducting bolometer mixer. The 8 GHz beat signal is compared with a microwave reference with a feedback to the laser bias current. Phase locking has been demonstrated, resulting in an extremely narrow beat linewidth of less than 10 Hz. Under frequency-stabilization conditions we find that the line profile is virtually Lorentzian with a long-term minimum linewidth of the THz modes of about 6.3 kHz. Temperature dependent measurements suggestthat this linewidthdoes not approach the Schawlow-Townes limit.
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