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Author Huebers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.; Richter, H.; Birk, M.; Krocka, M.; Mair, U.; Smirnov, K.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.
Title Superconducting hot electron bolometer as mixer for far-infrared heterodyne receivers Type Conference Article
Year 2003 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE
Volume 4855 Issue Pages 395-401
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy need quantum limited sensitivity. In instruments which are currently under development for SOFIA or Herschel superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) will be used to achieve this goal at frequencies above 1.4 THz. We present results of the development of a phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer for GREAT, the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies, which will be flown aboard SOFIA. The mixer is a small superconducting bridge incorporated in a planar feed antenna and a hyperhemispherical lens. Mixers with logarithmic-spiral and double-slot feed antennas have been investigated with respect to their noise temperature, conversion loss, linearity and beam pattern. At 2.5 THz a double sideband noise temperature of 2200 K was achieved. The conversion loss was 17 dB. The response of the mixer was linear up to 400 K load temperature. The performance was verified by measuring an emission line of methanol at 2.5 THz. The measured linewidth is in good agreement with the linewidth deduced from pressure broadening measurements at millimeter wavelength. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for far-infrared heterodyne receivers.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher SPIE Place of Publication Tucson, USA Editor Phillips, T. G.; Zmuidzinas, J.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Presented at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume 4855 Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 335
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Author Huebers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.; Schubert, J.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.; Gershenzon, E. M.; Krabbe, A.; Roeser, H.-P.
Title NbN hot-electron bolometer as THz mixer for SOFIA Type Conference Article
Year 2000 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE
Volume 4014 Issue Pages 195-202
Keywords NbN HEB mixers, airborne, stratospheric observatory, SOFIA
Abstract Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy need quantum limited sensitivity. We have investigated phonon- cooled NbN hot electron bolometric mixers in the frequency range from 0.7 THz to 5.2 THz. The devices were 3.5 nm thin films with an in-plane dimension of 1.7 X 0.2 micrometers 2 integrated in a complementary logarithmic spiral antenna. The best measured DSB receiver noise temperatures are 1300 K (0.7 THz), 2000 K (1.4 THz), 2100 K (1.6 THz), 2600 K (2.5 THz), 4000 K (3.1 THz), 5600 K (4.3 THz), and 8800 K (5.2 THz). The sensitivity fluctuation, the long term stability, and the antenna pattern were measured. The results demonstrate that this mixer is very well suited for GREAT, the German heterodyne receiver for SOFIA.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher SPIE Place of Publication Editor Melugin, R.K.; Roeser, H.-P.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference Airborne Telescope Systems
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1554
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Author Huebers, H.-W.; Schubert, J.; Semenov, A.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.; Gershenzon, E. M.; Schwaab, G. W.
Title NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometer as a mixer for THz heterodyne receivers Type Conference Article
Year 1999 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE
Volume 3828 Issue Pages 410-416
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract We have investigated a phonon-cooled NbN hot electron bolometric (HEB) mixer in the frequency range from 0.7 THz to 5.2 THz. The device was a 3.5 nm thin film with an in- plane dimension of 1.7 X 0.2 micrometers 2 integrated in a complementary logarithmic spiral antenna. The measured DSB receiver noise temperatures are 1500 K, 2200 K, 2600 K, 2900 K, 4000 K, 5600 K and 8800 K. The sensitivity fluctuation, the long term stability, and the antenna pattern were measured and the suitability of the mixer for a practical heterodyne receiver is discussed.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Spie Place of Publication Editor Chamberlain, J.M.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference Terahertz Spectroscopy and Applications II
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1477
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Author Schwaab, G.W.; Auen, K.; Bruendermann, E.; Feinaeugle, R.; Gol’tsman, G.N.; Huebers, H.-W.; Krabbe, A.; Roeser, H.-P.; Sirmain, G.
Title 2- to 6-THz heterodyne receiver array for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Type Conference Article
Year 1998 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE
Volume 3357 Issue Pages 85-96
Keywords NbN HEB mixers, applications, stratospheric observatory, airborne
Abstract The Institute of Space Sensor Technology of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing a heterodyne array receiver for the frequency range 2 to 6 THz for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Key science issues in that frequency range are the observation of lines of atoms [e.g. (OI)], ions [e.g. (CII), (NII)], and molecules (e.g. OH, HD, CO) with high spectral resolution to study the dynamics and evolution of galactic and extragalactic objects. Long term goal is the development of an integrated array heterodyne receiver with superconducting hot electron bolometric (HEB) mixers and p-type Ge or Si lasers as local oscillators. The first generation receiver will be composed of HEB mixers in a 2 pixel 2 polarization array which will be pumped by a gas laser local oscillator. Improved Schottky diode mixers are the backup solution for the HEBs. The state of the art of HEB mixer and p-type Ge laser technology are described as well as possible improvements in the ’conventional’ optically pumped far-infrared laser and Schottky diode mixer technology. Finally, the frequency coverage of the first generation heterodyne receiver for some important astronomical transitions is discussed. The expected sensitivity is compared to line fluxes measured by the ISO satellite.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher SPIE Place of Publication Editor Phillips, T.G.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference Advanced Technology MMW, Radio, and Terahertz Telescopes
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1583
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Author Yagoubov, P.; Kroug, M.; Merkel, H.; Kollberg, E.; Schubert, J.; Hubers, H.-W.; Schwaab, G.; Gol’tsman, G.; Gershenzon, E.
Title Performance of NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer at Terahertz frequencies Type Conference Article
Year 1998 Publication Proc. 6-th Int. Conf. Terahertz Electron. Abbreviated Journal Proc. 6-th Int. Conf. Terahertz Electron.
Volume Issue Pages 149-152
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract The performance of a NbN based phonon-cooled Hot Electron Bolometric (HEB) quasioptical mixer is investigated in the 0.65-3.12 THz frequency range. The device is made from a 3 nm thick NbN film on high resistivity Si and integrated with a planar spiral antenna on the same substrate. The in-plane dimensions of the bolometer strip are 0.2/spl times/2 /spl mu/m. The results of the DSB noire temperature are: 1300 K at 650 GHz, 4700 K at 2.5 TBz and 10000 K at 3.12 THz. The RF bandwidth of the receiver is at least 2.5 THz. The amount of LO power absorbed in the bolometer is about 100 nW. The mixer is linear to within 1 dB compression up to the signal level 10 dB below that of the LO. The intrinsic single sideband conversion gain is measured to be -9 dB, the total conversion gain -14 dB.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference IEEE Sixth International Conference on Terahertz Electronics Proceedings. THZ 98. (Cat. No.98EX171)
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1582
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Author Trifonov, A.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Lobanov, Y.; Kaurova, N.; Blundell, R.; Goltsman, G.
Title Photon absorption near the gap frequency in a hot electron bolometer Type Journal Article
Year 2017 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 1-4
Keywords NBN HEB mixer
Abstract The superconducting energy gap is a fundamental characteristic of a superconducting film, which, together with the applied pump power and the biasing setup, defines the instantaneous resistive state of the Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixer at any given bias point on the I-V curve. In this paper we report on a series of experiments, in which we subjected the HEB to radiation over a wide frequency range along with parallel microwave injection. We have observed three distinct regimes of operation of the HEB, depending on whether the radiation is above the gap frequency, far below it or close to it. These regimes are driven by the different patterns of photon absorption. The experiments have allowed us to derive the approximate gap frequency of the device under test as about 585 GHz. Microwave injection was used to probe the HEB impedance. Spontaneous switching between the superconducting (low resistive) state and a quasi-normal (high resistive) state was observed. The switching pattern depends on the particular regime of HEB operation and can assume a random pattern at pump frequencies below the gap to a regular relaxation oscillation running at a few MHz when pumped above the gap.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1558-2515 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1331
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Author Tong, C.-Y. E.; Trifonov, A.; Shurakov, A.; Blundell, R.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title A microwave-operated hot-electron-bolometric power detector for terahertz radiation Type Journal Article
Year 2015 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 2300604 (1 to 4)
Keywords NbN HEB mixer
Abstract A new class of microwave-operated THz power detectors based on the NbN hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixer is proposed. The injected microwave signal ( 1 GHz) serves the dual purpose of pumping the HEB element and enabling the read-out of the internal state of the device. A cryogenic amplifier amplifies the reflected microwave signal from the device and a homodyne scheme recovers the effects of the incident THz radiation. Two modes of operation have been identified, depending on the level of incident radiation. For weak signals, we use a chopper to chop the incident radiation against a black body reference and a lock-in amplifier to perform synchronous detection of the homodyne readout. The voltage measured is proportional to the incident power, and we estimate an optical noise equivalent power of  5pW/ √Hz at 0.83 THz. At higher signal levels, the homodyne circuit recovers the stream of steady relaxation oscillation pulses from the HEB device. The frequency of these pulses is in the MHz frequency range and bears a linear relationship with the incident THz radiation over an input power range of  15 dB. A digital frequency counter is used to measure THz power. The applicable power range is between 1 nW and 1 μW.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1558-2515 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1354
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Author Loudkov, D.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Kaurova, N.; Grishina, E.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title An investigation of the performance of the superconducting HEB mixer as a function of its RF embedding impedance Type Journal Article
Year 2005 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 15 Issue 2 Pages 472-475
Keywords waveguide NbN HEB mixers
Abstract We have conducted an investigation of the optimal embedding impedance for a waveguide superconducting hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixer. Three mixer chip designs for 800 GHz, offering nominal embedding resistances of 70 /spl Omega/, 35 /spl Omega/, and 15 /spl Omega/, have been developed. We used both High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software and scale model impedance measurements in the design process. We subsequently fabricated HEB mixers to these designs using 3-4 nm thick NbN thin film. Receiver noise temperature measurements and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) scans were performed to determine the optimal combination of embedding impedance and normal-state resistance for a 50 Ohm IF load impedance. A receiver noise temperature of 440 K was measured at a local oscillator frequency 850 GHz for a mixer with normal state resistance of 62 /spl Omega/ incorporated into a circuit offering a nominal embedding impedance of 70 /spl Omega/. We conclude from our data that, for low noise operation, the normal state resistance of the HEB mixer element should be close to the embedding impedance of the mixer mount.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number 1439677 Serial 1464
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Author Tong, C.-Y. E.; Meledin, D.; Loudkov, D.; Blundell, R.; Erickson, N.; Kawamura, J.; Mehdi, I.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title A 1.5 THz Hot-Electron Bolometer mixer operated by a planar diode based local oscillator Type Conference Article
Year 2003 Publication IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest Abbreviated Journal IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest
Volume 2 Issue Pages 751-754
Keywords waveguide NbN HEB mixers
Abstract We have developed a 1.5 THz superconducting NbN Hot-Electron Bolometer mixer. It is operated by an all-solid-state Local Oscillator comprising of a cascade of 4 planar doublers following an MMIC based W-band power amplifier. The threshold available pump power is estimated to be 1 /spl mu/W.
Address Philadelphia, PA, USA
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1516
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Author Richter, H.; Semenov, A.; Hubers, H.-W.; Smirnov, K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Voronov, B.
Title Phonon cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer for 1-5 THz Type Conference Article
Year 2004 Publication Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz Abbreviated Journal Proc. 29th IRMMW / 12th THz
Volume Issue Pages 241-242
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
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.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1506
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