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Yang, Z. Q., Hajenius, M., Baselmans, J. J. A., Gao, J. R., Klapwijk, T. M., Voronov, B., et al. (2005). Improved sensitivity of NbN hot electron bolometer mixers by vacuum baking. In Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 222–225).
Abstract: We find that the sensitivity of heterodyne receivers based on superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) in- creases by 25 − 30% after baking at 85 o C and in a high vacuum. The devices studied are twin-slot antenna coupled HEB mixers with a small NbN bridge of 1×0.15 μm 2 . The mixer noise temperature, gain, and resistance versus temperature curve of a HEB before and after baking are compared and analyzed. We show that baking 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 of the noise is 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 a bath temperature of 4.3 K.
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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 waveguide superconducting HEB mixer at different RF embedding impedances. In Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 226–229).
Abstract: We have conducted an investigation of the performance of superconducting hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixer at 800 GHz as a function of the embedding impedance of the waveguide embedding circuit. Using a single half-height mixer block, we have developed three different mixer chip configurations, offering nominal embedding resistances of 70, 35, and 15 Ohms. Both the High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software and scaled model impedance measurements were employed in the design process. Two batches of HEB mixers were fabricated to these designs using 3-4 nm thick NbN thin film. The mixers were characterized through receiver noise temperature measurements and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) scans. Briefly, a minimum receiver noise temperature of 440 K was measured at a local oscillator frequency 850 GHz for a mixer of normal state resistance 62 Ohms incorporated into a circuit offering a nominal embedding impedance of 70 Ohms. We conclude from our data that, for low noise operation, the normal state resistance of the HEB mixer element should be close to that of the embedding impedance of the mixer mount.
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Hubers, H. - W., Semenov, A., Richter, H., Schwarz, M., Gunther, B., Smirnov, K., et al. (2004). Heterodyne receiver for 3-5 THz with hot-electron bolometer mixer. In J. Zmuidzinas, W. S. Holland, & S. Withington (Eds.), Proc. SPIE (Vol. 5498, pp. 579–586). SPIE.
Abstract: Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy and planetary research need quantum limited sensitivity. In instruments which are currently build for SOFIA and Herschel superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) will be used to achieve this goal at frequencies above 1.4 THz. The local oscillator and the mixer are the most critical components for a heterodyne receiver operating at 3-5 THz. The design and performance of an optically pumped THz gas laser optimized for this frequency band will be presented. In order to optimize the performance for this frequency hot electron bolometer mixers with different in-plane dimensions and logarithmic-spiral feed antennas have been investigated. Their noise temperatures and beam patterns were measured. Above 3 THz the best performance was achieved with a superconducting bridge of 2.0 x 0.2 μm2 incorporated in a logarithmic spiral antenna. The DSB noise temperatures were 2700 K, 4700 K and 6400 K at 3.1 THz, 4.3 THz and 5.2 THz, respectively. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for THz heterodyne receivers up to at least 5 THz.
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Maslennikov, S. N., Morozov, D. V., Ozhegov, R. V., Smirnov, K. V., Okunev, O. V., & Gol’tsman, G. N. (2004). Imaging system for submillimeter wave range based on AlGaAs/GaAs hot electron bolometer mixers. In Proc. 5-th MSMW (Vol. 2, pp. 558–560).
Abstract: Electromagnetic radiation of the submillimeter (SMM) range is dispersed and absorbed significantly less than infrared (IR) radiation when passing through different objects. That is the reason for the development of an SMM imaging system. In this paper, we discuss the design of an SMM heterodyne imager, based on a matrix of AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure hot electron bolometer mixers (HEB) with relatively high (about 77 K) operating temperature. The predicted double side band (DSB) noise temperature is about 1000 K and optimal local oscillator (LO) power is about 1 /spl mu/W for such mixers, which seems to be quite prospective for an SMM heterodyne imager.
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Sobolewski, R., Verevkin, A., & Gol’tsman, G. N. (2004). Superconducting optical single-photon detectors. In CLEO/QELS (IThD1). Optical Society of America.
Abstract: We review the development of superconducting single-photon detectors. The devices are characterized by experimental quantum efficiency of ~8% for infrared photons, counting rate ~2 GHz, 18 ps jitter, and <0.01 per second dark counts.
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Baselmans, J. J. A., Hajenius, M., Gao, J. R., Baryshev, A., Kooi, J., Klapwijk, T. M., et al. (2004). Hot electron bolometer mixers with improved interfaces: sensitivity, LO power and stability. In Proc. 15th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 17–24).
Abstract: We study twin slot antenna coupled NbN hot electron bolometer mixers with an improved contact structure and a small volume, ranging from 1 µm × 0.1 µm to 2 × 0.3 µm. We obtain a DSB receiver noise temperature of 900 K at 1.6 THz and 940 K at 1.9 THz. To explore the practical usability of such small HEB mixers we evaluate the LO power requirement, the sensitivity and the stability. We find that the LO power requirement of the smallest mixers is reduced to about 240 nW at the Si lens of the mixer. This value is larger than expected from the isothermal technique and the known losses in the lens by a factor of 3-3.5. The stability of these receivers is characterized using a measurement of the Allan Variance. We find an Allan time of 0.5 sec. in an 80 MHz bandwidth. A small increase in stability can be reached by using a higher bias at the expense of a significant amount of sensitivity. The stability is sufficient for spectroscopic applications in a 1 MHz bandwidth at a 1 Hz chopping frequency.
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Ryabchun, S., Korneev, A., Matvienko, V., Smirnov, K., Kouminov, P., Seleznev, V., et al. (2004). Superconducting single photon detectors array based on hot electron phenomena. In Proc. 15th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 242–247).
Abstract: In this paper we propose to use time domain multiplexing for large format arrays of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs) of the terahertz, visible and infrared frequency ranges based on ultrathin superconducting NbN films. Effective realization of time domain multiplexing for SSPD arrays is possible due to a short electric pulse of the SSPD as response to radiation quantum absorption, picosecond jitter and extremely low noise equivalent power (NEP). We present experimental results of testing 2×2 arrays in the infrared waveband. The measured noise equivalent power in the infrared and expected for the terahertz waveband is 10 – 21 WHz -1/2 . The best quantum efficiency (QE) of SSPD is 50% at 1.3 µm wavelength.
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Hajenius, M., Baselmans, J. J. A., Gao, J. R., Klapwijk, T. M., de Korte 2, P. A. J., Voronov, B., et al. (2004). Increased bandwidth of NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometer mixers. In Proc. 15th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 381–386).
Abstract: We study experimentally the IF gain bandwidth of NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers for a set of devices with different contact structures but an identical NbN film. We observe that the IF bandwidth depends strongly on the exact contact structure and find an IF gain bandwidth of 6 GHz for a device with an additional superconducting layer (NbTiN) in between the active NbN film and the gold contact to the antenna. These results contradict the common opinion that the IF bandwidth is determined by the phonon-escape time between the NbN film and the substrate. Hence we calculate the IF gain bandwidth of a superconducting film using a two-temperature model. We find that the bandwidth increases strongly with operating temperature and is not limited by the phonon escape time. This is because of strong temperature dependence of the phonon specific heat in the NbN film.
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Richter, H., Semenov, A., Hubers, H. - W., Smirnov, K., Gol’tsman, G., & Voronov, B. (2004). Phonon cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer for 1-5 THz. In Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz (pp. 241–242).
Abstract: Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy and planetary research need quantum limited sensitivity. In instruments which are currently built for SOFIA and Herschel, superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) are used to achieve this goal at frequencies above 1.4 THz. In order to optimize the performance for this frequency of hot electron bolometer mixers with different in-plane dimensions and logarithmic-spiral feed antennas have been investigated. Their noise temperatures and beam patterns were measured. Above 3 THz the best performance was achieved with a superconducting bridge of 2.0/spl times/0.2 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ incorporated in a logarithmic spiral antenna. The DSB noise temperatures were 2700 K, 4700 and 6400 K at 3.1 THz, 4.3 THz and 5.2 THz, respectively. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for THz heterodyne receivers up to at least 5 THz.
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Hoogeveen, R. W. M., Yagoubov, P. A., Maurellis, A., Koshelets, V. P., Shitov, S. V., Mair, U., et al. (2003). New cryogenic heterodyne techniques applied in TELIS: the balloonborne THz and submillimeter limb sounder for atmospheric research. In M. Strojnik (Ed.), Proc. SPIE (Vol. 5152, pp. 347–355). SPIE.
Abstract: We present a design concept for a new state-of-the-art balloon borne atmospheric monitor that will allow enhanced limb sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere within the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength spectral range: TELIS, TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder. The instrument is being developed by a consortium of major European institutes that includes the Space Research Organization of the Netherlands (SRON), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will utilize state-of-the-art superconducting heterodyne technology and is designed to be a compact, lightweight instrument cpaable of providing broad spectral coverage, high spectral resolution and long flight duration ( 24 hours duration during a single flight campaign). The combination of high sensitivity and extensive flight duration will allow evaluation of the diurnal variation of key atmospheric constitutenets sucyh as OH, HO2, ClO, BrO togehter will onger lived constituents such as O3, HCL and N2O. Furthermore, TELIS will share a common balloon platform to that of the MIPAS-B Fourier Transform Spectrometer, developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Climate research of the over an extended spectral range. The combination of the TELIS and MIPAS instruments will provide atmospheric scientists with a very powerful observational tool. TELIS will serve as a testbed for new cryogenic heterodyne detection techniques, and as such it will act as a prelude to future spaceborne instruments planned by the European Space Agency (ESA).
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