|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Maingault, L.; Tarkhov, M.; Florya, I.; Semenov, A.; Espiau de Lamaëstre, R.; Cavalier, P.; Gol’tsman, G.; Poizat, J.-P.; Villégier, J.-C.
Title Spectral dependency of superconducting single photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year (down) 2010 Publication J. Appl. Phys. Abbreviated Journal J. Appl. Phys.
Volume 107 Issue 11 Pages 116103 (1 to 3)
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We investigate the effect of varying both incoming optical wavelength and width of NbN nanowires on the superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) detection efficiency. The SSPD are current biased close to critical value and temperature fixed at 4.2 K, far from transition. The experimental results are found to verify with a good accuracy predictions based on the “hot spot model,” whose size scales with the absorbed photon energy. With larger optical power inducing multiphoton detection regime, the same scaling law remains valid, up to the three-photon regime. We demonstrate the validity of applying a limited number of measurements and using such a simple model to reasonably predict any SSPD behavior among a collection of nanowire device widths at different photon wavelengths. These results set the basis for designing efficient single photon detectors operating in the infrared (2–5 μm range).

This work was supported by European projects FP6 STREP “SINPHONIA” (Contract No. NMP4-CT-2005-16433) and IP “QAP” (Contract No. 15848).
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 0021-8979 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1392
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lobanov, Yury V.; Tong, Cheuk-yu E.; Hedden, Abigail S.; Blundell, Raymond; Gol’tsman, Gregory N.
Title Microwave-assisted measurement of the frequency response of terahertz HEB mixers with a Fourier transform spectrometer Type Conference Article
Year (down) 2010 Publication Proc. 21th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal Proc. 21th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.
Volume Issue Pages 420-423
Keywords
Abstract We describe a novel method of operation of the HEB direct detector for use with a Fourier Transform Spectrometer. Instead of elevating the bath temperature, we have measured the RF response of waveguide HEB mixers by applying microwave radiation to select appropriate bias conditions. In our experiment, a microwave signal is injected into the HEB mixer via its IF port. By choosing an appropriate injection level, the device can be operated close to the desired operating point. Furthermore, we have shown that both thermal biasing and microwave injection can reproduce the same spectral response of the HEB mixer. However, with the use of microwave injection, there is no need to wait for the mixer to reach thermal equilibrium, so characterisation can be done in less time. Also, the liquid helium consumption for our wet cryostat is also reduced. We have demonstrated that the signal- to-noise ratio of the FTS measurements can be improved with microwave injection.
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 1394
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ryabchun, Sergey; Tong, Cheuk-Yu Edward; Blundell, Raymond; Gol'tsman, Gregory
Title Stabilization scheme for hot-electron bolometer receivers using microwave radiation Type Journal Article
Year (down) 2009 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages 14-19
Keywords HEB, mixer, Allan variance, stabilization, radiometer equation
Abstract We present the results of a stabilization scheme for terahertz receivers based on NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers that uses microwave radiation with a frequency much lower than the gap frequency of NbN to compensate for mixer current fluctuations. A feedback control loop, which actively controls the power level of the injected microwave radiation, has successfully been implemented to stabilize the operating point of the HEB mixer. This allows us to increase the receiver Allan time to 10 s and also improve the temperature resolution of the receiver by about 30% in the total power mode of operation.
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 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number RPLAB @ lobanovyury @ Serial 559
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Stucki, Damien; Barreiro, Claudio; Fasel, Sylvain; Gautier, Jean-Daniel; Gay, Olivier; Gisin, Nicolas; Thew, Rob; Thoma, Yann; Trinkler, Patrick; Vannel, Fabien; Zbinden, Hugo
Title Continuous high speed coherent one-way quantum key distribution Type Journal Article
Year (down) 2009 Publication Optics Express Abbreviated Journal Opt. Express
Volume 17 Issue 16 Pages 13326-13334
Keywords quantum cryptography, QKD, PNS, SSPD, coherent one way, COW
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.
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 RPLAB @ akorneev @ Serial 602
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Uzawa, Y.; Kojima, T.; Kroug, M.; Takeda, M.; Candotti, M.; Fujii, Y.; Shan, W.-L.; Kaneko, K.; Shitov, S.; Wang, M.-J.
Title Development of the 787-950 GHz ALMA band 10 cartridge Type Conference Article
Year (down) 2009 Publication Proc. 20th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 12-12
Keywords SIS mixer, noise temperature, ALMA, band 10
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.
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 615
Permanent link to this record