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| Author |
Shurakov, Alexander; Tong, Cheuk-yu E.; Blundell, Raymond; Gol’tsman, Gregory |
| Title |
A microwave pumped HEB direct detector using a homodyne readout scheme |
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Abstract |
| Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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129 |
| Keywords |
waveguide NbN HEB detector, NEP |
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We report the results of our study on the noise performance of a fast THz detector based on the repurpose of hot electron bolometer mixer (HEB). Instead of operating with an elevated bath temperature, microwave power is injected into the HEB device, which enhances the sensitivity of the detector and at the same time provide a mechanism for reading out impedance changes of the device induced by the modulated incident THz radiation [1]. We have demonstrated an improvement of the detector’s optical noise equivalent power (NEP). Furthermore, by introducing a homodyne readout scheme based on a room temperature microwave mixer, the dynamic range of the detector is increased. The HEB devices used in this work were made of 4 nm thick NbN film. The detector chips were installed into a waveguide mixer block fitted with a corrugated horn, mounted on the cold plate of a liquid helium cryostat. The HEBs were operated at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. The signal beam was terminated on black bodies at ambient and liquid nitrogen temperatures. A chopper wheel placed in front of the cryostat window operating at a frequency of 1.48 kHz modulated the input load temperature of the detector. A cold mesh filter, centered at 830 GHz, was used to define the input signal power bandwidth. Microwave was injected through a broadband directional coupler inside the cryostat. Our experiments were mostly conducted at a pump frequency of 1.5 GHz. The reflected microwave power from the HEB device was fed into a cryogenic low noise amplifier (LNA). The output of the LNA was connected to the RF input port of a room temperature microwave mixer, which beat the reflected signal from the HEB using a copy of the original 1.5 GHz injection signal in a homodyne demodulation scheme. The amplitude of the detected power was measured by a lock-in amplifier, which was synchronized to the chopper frequency. Preliminary results yield an optical NEP of ~1 pW/ Hz 1/2 which corresponds to an improvement of a factor of 3 compared to [1], driven mainly by a lowering of the system noise floor. The dynamic range was also increased by similar amount. References 1. A. Shurakov et al. “A Microwave Pumped Hot Electron Bolometric Direct Detector,” submitted on Oct 18, 2013 to Appl. Phys. Let. |
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1365 |
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Tong, C. Edward; Trifonov, Andrey; Blundell, Raymond; Shurakov, Alexander; Gol’tsman, Gregory |
| Title |
A digital terahertz power meter based on an NbN thin film |
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Abstract |
| Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Issue |
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Pages |
170 |
| Keywords |
waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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We have further studied the effect of subjecting a superconducting Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) element made from an NbN thin film to microwave radiation. Since the photon energy is weak, the microwave radiation does not simply heat the film, but generates a bi-static state, switching between the superconducting and normal states, upon the application of a small voltage bias. Indeed, a relaxation oscillation of a few MHz has previously been reported in this regime [1]. Switching between the superconducting and normal states modulates the reflected microwave pump power from the device. A simple homodyne setup readily recovers the spontaneous switching waveform in the time domain. The switching frequency is a function of both the bias voltage (DC heating) and the applied microwave power. In this work, we use a 0.8 THz HEB waveguide mixer for the purpose of demonstration. The applied microwave pump, coupled through a directional coupler, is at 1 GHz. Since the pump power is of the order of a few μW, a room temperature amplifier is sufficient to amplify the reflected pump power from the HEB mixer, which beats with the microwave source in a homodyne set-up. After further amplification, the switching waveform is passed onto a frequency counter. The typical frequency of the switching pulses is 3-5 MHz. It is found that the digital frequency count increases with higher microwave pump power. When the HEB mixer is subjected to additional optical power at 0.8 THz, the frequency count also increases. When we vary the incident optical power by using a wire grid attenuator, a linear relationship is observed between the frequency count and the applied optical power, over at least an order of magnitude of power. This phenomenon can be exploited to develop a digital power meter, using a very simple electronics setup. Further experiments are under way to determine the range of linearity and the accuracy of calibration transfer from the microwave to the THz regime. References 1. Y. Zhuang, and S. Yngvesson, “Detection and interpretation of bistatic effects in NbN HEB devices,” Proc. 13 th Int. Symp. Space THz Tech., 2002, pp. 463–472. |
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1366 |
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Ryabchun, S. A.; Tretyakov, I. V.; Finkel, M. I.; Maslennikov, S. N.; Kaurova, N. S.; Seleznev, V. A.; Voronov, B. M.; Gol'tsman, G. N. |
| Title |
NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometer mixer with additional diffusion cooling |
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Conference Article |
| Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 20th ISSTT |
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151-154 |
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HEB, mixer, bandwidth, noise temperatue, in-situ contacts, in situ contacts |
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Charlottesville, USA |
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590 |
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Lobanov, Y.; Tong, C.; Blundell, R.; Gol'tsman, G. |
| Title |
A study of direct detection effect on the linearity of hot electron bolometer mixers |
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Conference Article |
| Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 20th ISSTT |
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282-287 |
| Keywords |
HEB mixer, direct detection effect |
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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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RPLAB @ gujma @ |
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724 |
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Ryabchun, S. A.; Tretyakov, I. V.; Finkel, M. I.; Maslennikov, S. N.; Kaurova, N. S.; Seleznev, V. A.; Voronov, B. M.; Goltsman, G. N. |
| Title |
Fabrication and characterisation of NbN HEB mixers with in situ gold contacts |
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Conference Article |
| Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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62-67 |
| Keywords |
HEB, mixer, NbN, in-situ contacts |
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We present our recent results of the fabrication and testing of NbN hot-electron bolometer mixers with in situ gold contacts. An intermediate frequency bandwidth of about 6 GHz has been measured for the mixers made of a 3.5-nm NbN film on a plane Si substrate with in situ gold contacts, compared to 3.5 GHz for devices made of the same film with ex situ gold contacts. The increase in the intermediate frequency bandwidth is attributed to additional diffusion cooling through the improved contacts, which is further supported by the its dependence on the bridge length: intermediate frequency bandwidths of 3.5 GHz and 6 GHz have been measured for devices with lengths of 0.35 μm and 0.16 μm respectively at a local oscillator frequency of 300 GHz near the superconducting transition. At a local oscillator frequency of 2.5 THz the receiver has offered a DSB noise temperature of 950 K. When compared to the previous result of 1300 K obtained at the same local oscillator frequency for devices fabricated with an ex situ route, such a low value of the noise temperature may also be attributed to the improved gold contacts. |
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Groningen, Netherlands |
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412 |
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Smirnov, A. V.; Larionov, P. A.; Finkel, M. I.; Maslennikov, S. N.; Voronov, B. M.; Gol'tsman, G. N. |
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NbZr films for THz phonon-cooled HEB mixers |
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Conference Article |
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2008 |
Publication |
Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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44-47 |
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HEB, NbZr, material search |
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Groningen, Netherlands |
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577 |
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Cherednichenko, S.; Drakinskiy, V.; Lecomte, B.; Dauplay, F.; Krieg, J.-M.; Delorme, Y.; Feret, A.; Hübers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.D.; Gol’tsman, G.N. |
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Terahertz heterodyne array based on NbN HEB mixers |
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Abstract |
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2008 |
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Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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43 |
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NbN HEB mixers array |
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A 16 pixel heterodyne receiver for 2.5 THz is been developed based on NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers. The receiver uses a quasioptical RF coupling approach where HEB mixers are integrated into double dipole antennas on 1.5μm thick Si3N4 / SiO2 membranes. Miniature mirrors (one per pixel) and back short for the antenna were used to design the output mixer beam profile. The camera design allows all 16 pixel IF readout in parallel. The gain bandwidth of the HEB mixers on Si3N4 / SiO 2 membranes was found to be about 3 GHz, when an MgO buffer layers is applied on the membrane. We will also present the progress in the camera heterodyne tests. |
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no |
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1411 |
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Cherednichenko, S.; Drakinskiy, V.; Baubert, J.; Lecomte, B.; Dauplay, F.; Krieg, J.-M.; Delorme, Y.; Feret, A.; Hübers, H.-W.; Semenov, A. D.; Gol’tsman, G. N. |
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2.5 THz multipixel heterodyne receiver based on NbN HEB mixers |
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Abstract |
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2007 |
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Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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112 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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A 16 pixel heterodyne receiver for 2.5 THz has been developed based on NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers. The receiver uses a quasioptical RF coupling approach where HEB mixers are integrated into double dipole antennas on 1.5μm thick Si3N4 / SiO2 membranes. Spherical mirrors (one per pixel) and backshort distance from the antenna have been used to design the output mixer beam profile. The camera design allows all 16 pixel IF readout in parallel. Measurements of the mixers sensitivity and the input RF band are presented, and compared against calculations. |
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1419 |
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Semenov, A.; Richter, H.; Smirnov, A.; Günther, B.; Hübers, H.-W.; Il’in, K.; Siegel, M.; Gol’tsman, G.; Drakinskiy, V.; Merkel, H.; Karamarkovic, J. |
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Development of HEB mixers for GREAT and for security screening |
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Abstract |
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2007 |
Publication |
Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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184 |
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NbN HEB mixers, GREAT |
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We report the study on the quasioptical coupling efficiency and the gain bandwidth of NbN hot-electron bolometer mixers developed for the 4.7 THz channel of the German receiver for Astronomy at THz-frequencies (GREAT) and for security screening at subterahertz frequencies. Radiation coupling efficiency and directive properties of integrated lens antennas with log-spiral, log-periodic and double-slot planar feeds coupled to a hot-electron bolometer were experimentally studied at frequencies from 1 THz to 6 THz and compared with simulations based on the method of moments and the physical-optics ray tracing. For all studied antennas the modeled spectral dependence of the coupling efficiency fits to the experimental data obtained with both Fourier transform spectroscopy and noise temperature measurements only if the complex impedance of the bolometer is explicitly taken into account. Our experimental data did not indicate any noticeable contribution of the quantum noise to the system noise temperature. The experimentally observed deviation of the beam pattern from the model prediction increases with frequency and is most likely due to a non- ideality of the presently used lenses. Study of the intermediate frequency mixer gain at local oscillator (LO) frequencies between 2.5 THz and 0.3 THz showed an increase of the gain bandwidth at low LO frequencies that was understood as the contribution of the direct interaction of magnetic vortices with the radiation field. We have found that the non- homogeneous hot-spot model more adequately describes variation of the intermediate frequency bandwidth with the applied local oscillator power than any of uniform mixer models. The state-of-the-day performance of the GREAT 4.7-THz channel and the 0.8-THz security scanner will be presented. |
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1420 |
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Ryabchun, Sergey; Tong, Cheuk-yu Edward; Blundell, Raymond; Kimberk, Robert; Gol’tsman, Gregory |
| Title |
Stabilisation of a terahertz hot-electron bolometer mixer with microwave feedback control |
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Conference Article |
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2007 |
Publication |
Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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193-198 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers, Allan variance, stability |
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We report on implementation of microwave feedback control loop to stabilise the performance of an HEB mixer receiver. It is shown that the receiver sensitivity increases by a factor of 4 over a 16-minute scan, and the corresponding Allan time increases up to 10 seconds, as opposed to an open loop value of 1 second. Our experiments also demonstrate that the receiver sensitivity is limited by the intermediate frequency chain. |
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1421 |
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Maslennikov, S. N.; Finkel, M. I.; Antipov, S. V.; Polyakov, S. L.; Zhang, W.; Ozhegov, R.; Vachtomin, Yu. B.; Svechnikov, S. I.; Smirnov, K. V.; Korotetskaya, Yu. P.; Kaurova, N. S.; Gol'tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M. |
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Spiral antenna coupled and directly coupled NbN HEB mixers in the frequency range from 1 to 70 THz |
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Conference Article |
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2006 |
Publication |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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177-179 |
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directly coupled NbN HEB mixers |
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We investigate both antenna coupled and directly coupled HEB mixers at several LO frequencies within the range of 2.5 THz to 70 THz. H20 (2.5+10.7 THz), and CO2 (30 THz) gas discharge lasers are used as the local oscillators. The noise temperature of antenna coupled mixers is measured at LO frequencies of 2.5 THz, 3.8 THz, and 30 THz. The results for both antenna coupled and directly coupled mixer types are compared. The devices with in—plane dimensions of 5x5 ,um 2 are pumped by LO radiation at 10.7 THz. The directly coupled HEB demonstrates nearly flat dependence of responsivity on frequency in the range of 25+64 THz. |
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Paris, France |
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386 |
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Jiang, Ling; Miao, Wei; Zhang, Wen; Li, Ning; Lin, Zhen Hui; Yao, Qi Jun; Shi, Sheng-Cai; Svechnikov, Sergey I.; Vakhtomin, Yury B.; Antipov, Sergey V.; Voronov, Boris M.; Kaurova, Natalia S.; Gol'tsman, Gregory N. |
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Characterization of quasi-optical NbN phonon-cooled superconducting HEB mixers |
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Conference Article |
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2006 |
Publication |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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55-58 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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In this paper, we thoroughly investigate the performance of quasi-optical NbN phonon-cooled superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers, cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K refrigerator at 500 GI-1z and 850 GHz. The uncorrected lowest receiver noise Abstract---In temperatures measured are 800 K at 500 CHz without anti-reflection coating, and 1000 K @ 850 GHz with a 50 11M thick Mylar anti-reflection coating. The dependence of receiver noise temperature on the critical current and bath temperature of HEB mixer is also investigated here. Lifetime of quasi-optical superconducting NbN HEB mixers of different volumes, room temperature resistances, and critical temperatures are thoroughly studied. Increased room temperature resistance with time over the initial resistance changes between 1 and 1.2, and the reduced critical current with time over the initial value fluctuates slightly around 0.7 for most HEB mixers even of different volumes, room temperature resistances, and critical temperatures. The critical current degrades sharply vvhile room temperature resistance varies over 1.25. |
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1435 |
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Gao, J.R.; Hiajenius, M.; Yang, Z.Q.; Klapwijk, T.M.; Miao, W.; Shi, S. C.; Voronov, B.; Gortsman, G. |
| Title |
Direct comparison of the sensitivity of a spiral and a twin-slot antenna coupled HEB mixer at 1.6 THz |
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Conference Article |
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2006 |
Publication |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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59-62 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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To make a direct comparison of the sensitivity between a spiral and a twin slot antenna coupled HEB mixer, we designed both types of mixers and fabricated them in a single processing run and on the same wafer. Both mixers have similar dimensions of NbN bridges (1.5-2 pm x0.2 pm). At 1.6 THz we obtained a nearly identical receiver noise temperature from both mixers (only 5% difference), which is in a good agreement with the simulation based on semi analytical models for both antennas. In addition, by using a bandpass filter to reduce the direct detection effect and lowering the bath temperature to 2.4 K, we measured the lowest receiver noise temperature of 700 K at 1.63 THz using the twin-slot antenna mixer. |
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1436 |
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Baselmans, J. J. A.; Baryshev, A.; Hajenius, M.; Gao, J. R.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Influence of the direct response on the heterodyne sensitivity of hot electron bolometer mixers |
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2006 |
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Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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81 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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We present a detailed experimental study of the direct detection effect in a small volume (0.15pm x lpm) NbN hot electron bolometer mixer. It is a quasioptical mixer with a twin slot antenna designed for 700 GHz and the measurement was done at a LO frequency of 670 GHz. The direct detection effect is characterized by a change in the mixer bias current when switching broadband radiation from a 300 K hot load to a 77 K cold load in a standard Y factor measurement. The result is, depending on the receiver under study, an increase or decrease in the receiver noise temperature. We find that the small signal noise temperature, which is the noise temperature that would be observed without the presence of the direct detection effect, and thus the one that is relevant for an astronomical observation, is 20% lower than the noise temperature obtained using 300 K and 77 K calibration loads. Thus, in our case the direct detection effect reduces the mixer sensitivity. These results are in good agreement with previous measurement at THz frequencies [1]. Other experiments report an increase in mixer sensitivity [2]. To analyze this discrepancy we have designed a separate set of experiments to find out the physical origin of the direct detection effect. Possible candidates are the bias current dependence of the mixer gain and the bias current dependence of the IF match. We measured directly the change in mixer IF match and receiver gain due to the direct detection effect. From these measurements we conclude that the direct detection effect is caused by a combination of bias current reduction when switching form the 77 K to the 300 K load in combination with the bias current dependence of the receiver gain. The bias current dependence of the receiver gain is shown to be mainly caused by the current dependence of the mixer gain. We also find that an increase in receiver sensitivity due to the direct detection effect is only possible if the noise temperature change due to the direct detection is dominated by the mixer-amplifier IF match. [1] J.J.A. Baselmans, A. Baryshev, S.F. Reker, M. Hajenius, J.R. Gao, T.M. Klapwijk, Yu.Vachtomin, S. Maslennikov, S. Antipov, B. Voronov, and G. Gol'tsman., Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 163503 (2005). [2] S. Svechnokov, A. Verevkin, B. Voronov, E. Menschikov. E. Gershenzon, G. Gol'tsman, 9th Int. Symp. On Space THz. Techn., 45, (1999). |
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1437 |
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Gao, J. R.; Hajenius, M.; Tichelaar, F. D.; Voronov, B.; Grishina, E.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Gol'tsman, G.; Zorman, C. A. |
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Can NbN films on 3C-SiC/Si change the IF bandwidth of hot electron bolometer mixers? |
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2006 |
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Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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187-189 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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We realized ultra thin NbN films sputtered grown on a 3C-SiC/Si substrate. The film with a thickness of 3.5-4.5 nm shows a 1', of 11.8 K, which is the highest I`, observed among ultra thin NbN films on different substrates. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies show that the film has a monocrystalline structure, confirming the epitaxial growth on the 3C-SiC. Based on a two-temperature model and input parameters from standard NbN films on Si, simulations predict that the new film can increase the IF bandwidth of a HEB mixer by about a factor of 2 in comparison to the standard films. In addition, we find standard NbN films on Si with a T c of 9.4 K have a thickness of around 5.5 nm, being thicker than expected (3.5 nm). |
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