Records |
Author |
Trifonov, A.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Ryabchun, S.; Gol'tsman, G. |
Title |
Probing the stability of HEB mixers with microwave injection |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2015 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Volume |
25 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
2300404 (1 to 4) |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixer, stability, Allan-variance |
Abstract |
Using a microwave probe as a tool, we have performed experiments aimed at understanding the origin of the output-power fluctuations in hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers. We use a probe frequency of 1.5 GHz. The microwave probe picks up impedance changes of the HEB, which are examined upon demodulation of the reflected wave outside the cryostat. This study shows that the HEB mixer operates in two different regimes under a terahertz pump. At a low pumping level, strong pulse modulation is observed, as the device switches between the superconducting state and the normal state at a rate of a few megahertz. When pumped much harder, to approximate the low-noise mixer operating point, residual modulation can still be observed, showing that the HEB mixer is intrinsically unstable even in the resistive state. Based on these observations, we introduced a low-frequency termination to the HEB mixer. By terminating the device in a 50-Ω resistor in the megahertz frequency range, we have been able to improve the output-power Allan time of our HEB receiver by a factor of four to about 10 s for a detection bandwidth of 15 MHz, with a corresponding gain fluctuation of about 0.035%. |
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1051-8223 |
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1355 |
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Author |
Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Zhong, J. Q.; Shi, S. C.; Hayton, D. J.; Vercruyssen, N.; Gao, J. R.; Goltsman, G. N. |
Title |
Temperature dependence of the receiver noise temperature and IF bandwidth of superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Supercond. Sci. Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Supercond. Sci. Technol. |
Volume |
27 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
085013 (1 to 5) |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
In this paper we study the temperature dependence of the receiver noise temperature and IF noise bandwidth of superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers. Three superconducting NbN HEB devices of different transition temperatures (Tc) are measured at 0.85 THz and 1.4 THz at different bath temperatures (Tbath) between 4 K and 9 K. Measurement results demonstrate that the receiver noise temperature of superconducting NbN HEB devices is nearly constant for Tbath/Tc, less than 0.8, which is consistent with the simulation based on a distributed hot-spot model. In addition, the IF noise bandwidth appears independent of Tbath/Tc, indicating the dominance of phonon cooling in the investigated HEB devices. |
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0953-2048 |
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1358 |
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Author |
Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Yao, Q. J.; Lin, Z. H.; Shi, S. C.; Gao, J. R.; Goltsman, G. N. |
Title |
Spectral response and noise temperature of a 2.5 THz spiral antenna coupled NbN HEB mixer |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Phys. Procedia |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. Procedia |
Volume |
36 |
Issue |
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Pages |
334-337 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixer |
Abstract |
We report on a 2.5 THz spiral antenna coupled NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers, fabricated with in-situ process. The receiver noise temperature with lowest value of 1180 K is in good agreement with calculated quantum efficiency factor as a function of bias voltage. In addition, the measured spectral response of the spiral antenna coupled NbN HEB mixer shows broad frequency coverage of 0.8-3 THz, and corrected response for optical losses, FTS, and coupling efficiency between antenna and bolometer falls with frequency due to diffraction-limited beam of lens/antenna combination. |
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1875-3892 |
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1381 |
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Pentin, I. V.; Smirnov, A. V.; Ryabchun, S. A.; Ozhegov, R. V.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Vaks, V. L.; Pripolzin, S. I.; Pavel’ev, D. G.; Koshurinov, Y. I.; Ivanov, A. S. |
Title |
Semiconducting superlattice as a solid-state terahertz local oscillator for NbN hot-electron bolometer mixers |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Tech. Phys. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Tech. Phys. |
Volume |
57 |
Issue |
7 |
Pages |
971-974 |
Keywords |
semiconducting superlattice frequency multiplier, NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
We present the results of our studies of the semiconducting superlattice (SSL) frequency multiplier and its application as part of the solid state local oscillator (LO) in the terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer. We show that the SSL output power level increases as the ambient temperature is lowered to 4.2 K, the standard HEB operation temperature. |
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1063-7842 |
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Serial |
1378 |
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Author |
Hajenius, M.; Yang, Z. Q.; Gao, J. R.; Baselmans, J. J. A.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
Title |
Optimized sensitivity of NbN hot electron bolometer mixers by annealing |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Volume |
17 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
399-402 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
We report that the heterodyne sensitivity of superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) increases by 25-30% after annealing at 85degC in high vacuum. The devices studied are twin-slot antenna coupled mixers with a small area NbN bridge of 1 mum times 0.15 mum, above which there is a SiO 2 passivation layer. The mixer noise temperature, gain, and resistance versus temperature curve of a HEB before and after annealing are compared and analysed. We show that the annealing reduces the intrinsic noise of the mixer by 37% and makes the superconducting transition of the bridge and the contacts sharper. We argue that the reduction ofthe noise is mainly due to the improvement of the transparency of the contact/film interface. The lowest receiver noise temperature of 700 K is measured at a local oscillator frequency of 1.63 THz and at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. |
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1051-8223 |
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no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
1426 |
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