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Cherednichenko S, Kroug M, Yagoubov P, Merkel H, Kollberg E, Yngvesson KS, et al. IF bandwidth of phonon cooled HEB mixers made from NbN films on MgO substrates. In: Proc. 11th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 2000. p. 219–27.
Abstract: An investigation of gain and noise bandwidth of phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixers is presented. The radiation coupling to the mixers is quasioptical through either a spiral or twin-slot antenna. A maximum gain bandwidth of 4.8 GHz is obtained for mixers based on a 3.5 nm thin NbN film with Tc= 10 K. The noise bandwidth is 5.6 GHz, at the moment limited by parasitic elements in the, device mount fixture. At 0.65 THz the DSB receiver noise temperature is 700-800 К in the IF band 1-2 GHz, and 1150-2700 К in the band 3.5-7 GHz.
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Ekström H, Karasik B, Kollberg E, Yngvesson KS. Investigation of a superconducting hot electron mixer. In: Proc. 5th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1994. p. 169–88.
Abstract: Mixing at 20 GHz in niobium superconducting thin film strips in the resistive state is studied. Experiments give evidence that electron-heating is the main cause of the non linear phenomena. The requirements on the mode of operation and on the film parameters for small conversion loss and the possibility of conversion gain are discussed. Measurements indicate a minimum intrinsic conversion loss around 1 dB with a sharp drop for the lowest voltage bias-points, and a DSB mixer noise temperature between 100 and 450 K at 20 GHz. The device output noise temperature at the mixer operating point can be as low as 30-50 K. A simple theory is presented, which is based on the assumption that the small signal resistance is linearly dependent on power. This type of mixer is considered very promising for use in low-noise heterodyne receivers at THz frequencies.
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Ekstrom H, Karasik B, Weikle R, Yngvesson KS, Gol’tsman G, Kollberg E, et al. Mixers using superconducting Nb films in the resistive state. In: 23rd European Microwave Conf.; 1993. p. 787–9.
Abstract: The mixing of 20 GHz radiation in a Nb superconducting film in the resistive state was studied. The experiment gave evidence of electron-heating to be the origin of the non-linear phenomenon. The requirements on the operation mode and on the film parameters in order to obtain small conversion losses or even gain are determined. Our measurements indicate a conversion loss of about 6-8 dB. The hot-electron bolometer is considered to be very promising for use in heterodyne receivers in a wide frequency range from microwaves to terahertz frequencies.
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Fu K, Zannoni R, Chan C, Adams SH, Nicholson J, Polizzi E, et al. Terahertz detection in single wall carbon nanotubes. Appl Phys Lett. 2008;92(3):033105.
Abstract: It is reported that terahertz radiation from 0.69 to 2.54 THz has been sensitively detected in a device consisting of bundles of carbon nanotubes containing single wall metallic carbon nanotubes, quasioptically coupled through a lithographically fabricated antenna, and a silicon lens. The measured data are consistent with a bolometric detection process in the metallic tubes and the devices show promise for operation well above 4.2 K.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Jian H, Yngvesson KS, Dickinson J, Waldman J, et al. Measured results for NbN phonon-cooled hot electron bolometric mixers at 0.6-0.75 THz, 1.56 THz, and 2.5 THz. In: Proc. 9th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1998. p. 105–14.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Jian H, Yngvesson KS, Dickinson J, Waldman J, et al. New results for NbN phonon-cooled hot electron bolometric mixers above 1 THz. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 1999;9(2):4217–20.
Abstract: NbN Hot Electron Bolometric (HEB) mixers have produced promising results in terms of DSB receiver noise temperature (2800 K at 1.56 THz). The LO source for these mixers is a gas laser pumped by a CO/sub 2/ laser and the device is quasi-optically coupled through an extended hemispherical lens and a self-complementary log-periodic toothed antenna. NbN HEBs do not require submicron dimensions, can be operated comfortably at 4.2 K or higher, and require LO power of about 100-500 nW. IF noise bandwidths of 5 GHz or greater have been demonstrated. The DC bias point is also not affected by thermal radiation at 300 K. Receiver noise temperatures below 1 THz are typically 450-600 K and are expected to gradually approach these levels above 1 THz as well. NbN HEB mixers thus are rapidly approaching the type of performance required of a rugged practical receiver for astronomy and remote sensing in the THz region.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Jian H, Zhuang Y, Yngvesson KS, Dickinson J, et al. Improved characteristics of NbN HEB mixers integrated with log-periodic antennas. In: Proc. 10th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1999. p. 200–7.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Schuch R, Lutz CR, Jr., Yngvesson KS, et al. Hot electron detection and mixing experiments in NbN at 119 micrometer wavelength. In: Proc. 6th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1995. p. 284–93.
Abstract: We have performed preliminary experiments with the goal of demonstrating a Hot Electron Bolometric (HEB) mixer for a 119 micrometer wavelength (2.5 THz). We have chosen a NbN device of size 700 x 350 micrometers. This device can easily be coupled to a laser LO source, which is advantageous for performing a prototype experiment. The relatively large size of the device means that the LO power required is in the mW range; this power can be easily obtained from a THz laser source. We have measured the amount of laser power actually absorbed in the device, and from this have estimated the best optical coupling loss to be about 10 di . We are developing methods for improving the optical coupling further. Preliminary measurements of the response of the device to a chopped black-body have not yet resulted in a measured receiver noise temperature. We expect to be able to complete this measurement in the near future.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Wang Z, Yngvesson KS, Mueller ER, Waldman J, et al. Optimization of hot eleciron bolometer mixing efficiency in NbN at 119 micrometer wavelength. In: Proc. 7th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1996. p. 584–600.
Abstract: We describe an investigation of a NbN HEB mixer for 2.5 THz. An intrinsic conversion loss of 23 dB has been measured with a two-laser measurement technique. The conversion loss was limited by the LO power available and is expected to decrease to 10 dB or less when sufficient LO power is available. For this initial experiment we used a prototype device which is directly coupled to the laser beams. We present results for a back-short technique that improves the optical coupling to the device and describe our progress for an antenna-coupled device with a smaller dimension. Based on our measured data for conversion loss and device output noise level, we predict that NbN HEB mixers will be capable of achieving DSB receiver noise temperatures of ten times the quantum noise limit in the THz range.
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Gerecht E, Musante CF, Wang Z, Yngvesson KS, Waldman J, Gol'tsman GN, et al. NbN hot electron bolometric mixer for 2.5 THz: the phonon cooled version. In: Proc. 8th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.; 1997. p. 258–71.
Abstract: We describe an investigation of a NbN HEB mixer for 2.5 THz. NbN HEBs are phonon-cooled de-. vices which are expected, according to theory, to achieve up to 10 GHz IF conversion gain bandwidth. We have developed an antenna coupled device using a log-periodic antenna and a silicon lens. We have demon- strated that sufficient LO power can be coupled to the device in order to bring it to the optimum mixer oper- ating point. The LO power required is less than 1 microwatts as measured directly at the device. We also describe the impedance characteristics of NbN devices and compare them with theory. The experimental results agree with theory except for the imaginary part of the impedance at very low frequencies as was demonstrated by other groups.
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