Meledin, D., Pavolotsky, A., Desmaris, V., Lapkin, I., Risacher, C., Perez, V., et al. (2009). A 1.3-THz balanced waveguide HEB mixer for the APEX telescope. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Techn., 57(1), 89–98.
Abstract: In this paper, we report about the development, fabrication, and characterization of a balanced waveguide hot electron bolometer (HEB) receiver for the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment telescope covering the frequency band of 1.25–1.39 THz. The receiver uses a quadrature balanced scheme and two HEB mixers, fabricated from 4- to 5-nm-thick NbN film deposited on crystalline quartz substrate with an MgO buffer layer in between. We employed a novel micromachining method to produce all-metal waveguide parts at submicrometer accuracy (the main-mode waveguide dimensions are 90×180 μm). We present details on the mixer design and measurement results, including receiver noise performance, stability and “first-light†at the telescope site. The receiver yields a double-sideband noise temperature averaged over the RF band below 1200 K, and outstanding stability with a spectroscopic Allan time more than 200 s.
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Treuttel, J., Thomas, B., Maestrini, A., Wang, H., Alderman, B., Siles, J. V., et al. (2009). A 380 GHz sub-harmonic mixer using MMIC foundry based Schottky diodes transferred onto quartz substrate. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.. Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
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Lobanov, Y., Tong, C., Blundell, R., & Gol'tsman, G. (2009). A study of direct detection effect on the linearity of hot electron bolometer mixers. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 282–287).
Abstract: We have performed a study of how direct detection affects the linearity and hence the calibration of an HEB mixer. Two types of waveguide HEB devices have been used: a 0.8 THz HEB mixer and a 1.0 THz HEB mixer which is ~5 times smaller than the former. Two independent experimental approaches were used. In the ΔG/G method, the conversion gain of the HEB mixer is first measured as a function of the bias current for a number of bias voltages. At each bias setting, we carefully measure the change in the operating current when the input loads are switched. From the measured data, we can derive the expected difference in gain between the hot and cold loads. In the second method (injection method [1]), the linearity of the HEB mixer is independently measured by injecting a modulated signal for different input load temperatures. The results of both approaches confirm that there is gain compression in the operation of HEB mixers. Based on the results of our measurements, we discuss the impact of direct detection effects on the operation of HEB mixers.
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Marksteiner, M., Divochiy, A., Sclafani, M., Haslinger, P., Ulbricht, H., Korneev, A., et al. (2009). A superconducting NbN detector for neutral nanoparticles. Nanotechnol., 20(45), 455501.
Abstract: We present a proof-of-principle study of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) for the detection of individual neutral molecules/nanoparticles at low energies. The new detector is applied to characterize a laser desorption source for biomolecules and allows retrieval of the arrival time distribution of a pulsed molecular beam containing the amino acid tryptophan, the polypeptide gramicidin as well as insulin, myoglobin and hemoglobin. We discuss the experimental evidence that the detector is actually sensitive to isolated neutral particles.
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Billade, B., Belitsky, V., Pavolotsky, A., Lapkin, I., & Kooi, J. (2009). ALMA band 5 (163-211 GHz) sideband separation mixer. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 19–23).
Abstract: We present the design of ALMA Band 5 sideband separation SIS mixer and experimental results for the double side band mixer and first measurement results 2SB mixer. In this mixer, the LO injection circuitry is integrated on the mixer substrate using a directional coupler, combining microstrip lines with slot-line branches in the ground plane. The isolated port of the LO coupler is terminated by wideband floating elliptical termination. The mixer employs two SIS junctions with junction area of 3 µm² each, in the twin junction configuration, followed by a quarter wave transformer to match the RF probe. 2SB mixer uses two identical but mirrored chips, whereas each DSB mixer has the same end-piece configuration. The 2S mixer has modular design such that DSB mixers are measured independently and then integrated into 2SB simply by placing around the middle piece. Measurements of the DSB mixer show noise temperature of around 40K over the entire band. 2SB mixer is not fully characterized yet, however, preliminary measurement indicates SSB (un-corrected) noise temperature of 80K.
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Karpov, A., Miller, D., Stern, J. A., Bumble, B., LeDuc, H. G., & Zmuidzinas, J. (2009). Broadband SIS mixer for 1 THz Band. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (p. 35).
Abstract: We report the development of a low noise and broadband SIS mixer aimed for 1 THz channel of the Caltech Airborne Submillimeter Interstellar Medium Investigations Receiver (CASIMIR), designed for the Stratospheric Observatory for Far Infrared Astronomy, (SOFIA). The mixer uses an array of 0.24 µm² Nb/Al-AlN/NbTiN SIS junctions with critical current density of 30-50 KA/cm². The junctions are shaped in order to optimize the suppression of the Josephson DC currents. We are using a double slot planar antenna to couple the mixer chip with the telescope beam. The RF matching microcircuit is made using Nb and gold films. The mixer IF circuit is designed to cover 4 – 8 GHz band. A test receiver with the new mixer has a low noise operation in a 0.87 – 1.12 THz band. The minimum DSB receiver noise measured at 1 THz is 260 K (Y=1.64), apparently the lowest reported up to date. The receiver noise corrected for the loss in the LO injection beam splitter and in the cryostat window is 200 K. The combination of a broad operation band of about 250 GHz with a low receiver noise is making the new mixer a useful element for application at SOFIA. We will discuss the prospective of a further improvement of the sensitivity and extension of the upper frequency of operation of SIS mixer.
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Lieberzeit, P. A., & Dickert, F. L. (2009). Chemosensors in environmental monitoring: challenges in ruggedness and selectivity. Anal Bioanal Chem, 393(2), 467–472.
Abstract: Environmental analysis is a potential key application for chemical sensors owing to their inherent ability to detect analytes on-line and in real time in distributed systems. Operating a chemosensor in a natural environment poses substantial challenges in terms of ruggedness, long-term stability and calibration. This article highlights current trends of achieving both the necessary selectivity and ruggedness: one way is deploying sensor arrays consisting of robust broadband sensors and extracting information via chemometrics. If using only a single sensor is desired, molecularly imprinted polymers offer a straightforward way for designing artificial recognition materials. Molecularly imprinted polymers can be utilized in real-life environments, such as water and air, aiming at detecting analytes ranging from small molecules to entire cells.
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Stucki, D., Barreiro, C., Fasel, S., Gautier, J. - D., Gay, O., Gisin, N., et al. (2009). Continuous high speed coherent one-way quantum key distribution. Opt. Express, 17(16), 13326–13334.
Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the first commercial quantum technology operating at the level of single quanta and is a leading light for quantum-enabled photonic technologies. However, controlling these quantum optical systems in real world environments presents significant challenges. For the first time, we have brought together three key concepts for future QKD systems: a simple high-speed protocol; high performance detection; and integration both, at the component level and for standard fibre network connectivity. The QKD system is capable of continuous and autonomous operation, generating secret keys in real time. Laboratory and field tests were performed and comparisons made with robust InGaAs avalanche photodiodes and superconducting detectors. We report the first real world implementation of a fully functional QKD system over a 43dB-loss (150km) transmission line in the Swisscom fibre optic network where we obtained average real-time distribution rates over 3 hours of 2.5bps.
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Venkatasubramanian, C., Cabarcos, O. M., Allara, D. L. H., Mark W., & Ashok, S. (2009). Correlation of temperature response and structure of annealed VOx thin films for IR detector applications. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 27(4), 6.
Abstract: The effects of thermal annealing on vanadium oxide (VOx) thin films prepared by pulsed-dc magnetron sputtering were studied to explore methods of improving the efficiency of uncooled IR imaging microbolometers, particularly with respect to maximizing the temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) (typically ~2%) while minimizing resistivity values (typically 0.05–5 Ω cm). Since high TCR values are usually associated with high resistivities, the experiments were designed to find processing conditions that provide an optimal balance in these properties and to then determine the underlying structural correlations which would enable rational design of thin films for this specific application. VOx films of different compositions were deposited by pulsed-dc reactive sputtering from a vanadium target at different oxygen flow rates. The deposited films were further modified by annealing in inert (nitrogen) and oxidizing (oxygen) atmospheres at four different temperatures for 10, 20, or 30 min at a time. The resistivities of the as-deposited films ranged from 0.2 to 13 Ω cm and the TCR values varied from –1.6% to –2.2%. Depending on the exact annealing conditions, several orders of magnitude change in resistance and significant variations in TCR were observed. Optimal results were obtained with annealing in a nitrogen atmosphere. Structural characterization by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy indicated changes in the film crystallinity and phase for annealing conditions over 300 °C with the onset and extent of the changes dependent on which annealing atmosphere was used.
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Fiore, A., Marsili, F., Bitauld, D., Gaggero, A., Leoni, R., Mattioli, F., et al. (2009). Counting photons using a nanonetwork of superconducting wires. In M. Cheng (Ed.), Nano-Net (pp. 120–122). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Abstract: We show how the parallel connection of photo-sensitive superconducting nanowires can be used to count the number of photons in an optical pulse, down to the single-photon level. Using this principle we demonstrate photon-number resolving detectors with unprecedented sensitivity and speed at telecommunication wavelengths.
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Driessen, E. F. C. (2009). Coupling light to periodic nanostructures. Fac. Scien., Leiden Un., , 144.
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Doi, Y., Wang, Z., Ueda, T., Nickels, P., Komiyama, S., Patrashin, M., et al. (2009). CSIP – a novel photon-counting detector applicable for the SPICA far-infrared instrument. SPICA, (SPICA Workshop 2009).
Abstract: We describe a novel GaAs/AlGaAs double-quantumwell device for the infrared photon detection, called ChargeSensitive Infrared Phototransistor (CSIP). The principle of CSIP detector is the photo-excitation of an intersubband transition in a QW as an charge integrating gate and the signal ampli<ef><ac><81>cation by another QW as a channel with very high gain, which provides us with extremely high responsivity (104 – 106 A/W). It has been demonstrated that the CSIP designed for the mid-infrared wavelength (14.7 μm) has an excellent sensitivity; the noise equivalent power (NEP) of 7 × 10-19 W/ with the quantum effciency of ~ 2%. Advantages of the CSIP against the other highly sensitive detectors are, huge dynamic range of > 106, low output impedance of 103 – 104 Ohms, and relatively high operation temperature (> 2 K). We discuss possible applications of the CSIP to FIR photon detection covering 35 – 60 μm waveband, which is a gap uncovered with presently available photoconductors.
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Li, C. - T., Chen, T. - J., Ni, T. - L., Lu, W. - C., Chiu, C. - P., Chen, C. - W., et al. (2009). Development of SIS mixers for SMA 400-520 GHz band. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 24–30).
Abstract: SIS junction mixers were developed for SMA 400-520 GHz band. The results show receiver noise temperature around 100 K across the band, with noise contribution from RF loss and IF estimated to be around 50 K and 20K, respectively. Two schemes were used to tune out junction's parasitic capacitance. When a parallel inductor is employed, the input impedance is close to Rn, which facilitates impedance matching between the junction and the waveguide probe. Waveguide probes were designed to achieve a low feed-point impedance to match to the junction resistance. Optimum embedding impedances for lower receiver noise temperature were investigated. Performances of two schemes and composition of receiver noise were also discussed.
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Uzawa, Y., Kojima, T., Kroug, M., Takeda, M., Candotti, M., Fujii, Y., et al. (2009). Development of the 787-950 GHz ALMA band 10 cartridge. In Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (p. 12).
Abstract: We are developing the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 10 (787-950 GHz) receiver cartridge. The incoming beam from the 12-m antenna is reflected by a pair of two ellipsoidal mirrors placed in the cartridge, and then split into two orthogonal polarizations by a free-standing wire-grid. Each beam enters a corrugated feed horn attached to a double-side-band (DSB) mixer block. The mixer uses a full-height waveguide and an NbTiN- or NbN-based superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer chip. We are testing the following three types of mixer chips: 1) Nb SIS junctions + NbTiN/SiO2/Al tuning circuits on a quartz substrate, 2) Nb SIS junctions + NbN/SiO2/Al tuning circuits on an MgO substrate, and 3) NbN SIS junctions + NbN or NbTiN tuning circuits on an MgO substrate. The IF system uses a 4-12-GHz cooled low-noise InP-based MMIC amplifier developed by Caltech. So far, the type 1) has shown the best performance. At LO frequencies from 800 to 940 GHz, the mixer noise temperatures measured by using the standard Y-factor method were below 240 K at an operating physical temperature of 4 K. The lowest noise temperature, 169 K, was obtained at the center frequency of the band 10, as designed. These well-developed technologies will be implemented in the band 10 cartridge to achieve the ALMA specifications.
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Benford, D., Moseley, H., & Zmuidzinas, J. (2009). Direct detectors for the Einstein inflation probe. In J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. (Vol. 155, 012001 (1 to 49)).
Abstract: Here we review the principles of operation, history, present status, and future prospects for the primary candidate detectors for Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization studies. The three detector types we will discuss are semiconductor-based bolometers, superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometer, and Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs). All of these detector types can provide the sensitivity to permit background-limited measurements of the CMB, but the ultimate selection of detectors will be largely determined by the ease of production and reliability of large arrays of such detectors. This paper describes the present state of development of these detectors, efforts to integrate them into large arrays, and the detector system developments necessary to enable a space CMB polarization mission.
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