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Hajenius M, Yang ZQ, Gao JR, Baselmans JJA, Klapwijk TM, Voronov B, et al. Optimized sensitivity of NbN hot electron bolometer mixers by annealing. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2007;17(2):399–402.
Abstract: We report that the heterodyne sensitivity of superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) increases by 25-30% after annealing at 85degC in high vacuum. The devices studied are twin-slot antenna coupled mixers with a small area NbN bridge of 1 mum times 0.15 mum, above which there is a SiO 2 passivation layer. The mixer noise temperature, gain, and resistance versus temperature curve of a HEB before and after annealing are compared and analysed. We show that the annealing 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 ofthe noise is mainly 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 at a bath temperature of 4.2 K.
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Henrich D, Dorner S, Hofherr M, Il'in K, Semenov A, Heintze E, et al. Broadening of hot-spot response spectrum of superconducting NbN nanowire single-photon detector with reduced nitrogen content. J Appl Phys. 2012;112.
Abstract: The spectral detection efficiency and the dark count rate of superconducting nanowire
single-photon detectors (SNSPD) have been studied systematically on detectors made from thin
NbN films with different chemical compositions. Reduction of the nitrogen content in the 4 nm
thick NbN films results in a decrease of the dark count rates more than two orders of magnitude
and in a red shift of the cut-off wavelength of the hot-spot SNSPD response. The observed
phenomena are explained by an improvement of uniformity of NbN films that has been confirmed
by a decrease of resistivity and an increase of the ratio of the measured critical current to the
depairing current. The latter factor is considered as the most crucial for both the cut-off
wavelength and the dark count rates of SNSPD. Based on our results we propose a set of criteria
for material properties to optimize SNSPD in the infrared spectral region. VC 2012 American
Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4757625]
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Hübers H-W, Semenov AD, Richter H, Schubert J, Hadjiloucas S, Bowen JW, et al. Antenna pattern of the quasi-optical hot-electron bolometric mixer at terahertz frequencies. In: Proc. 12th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. San Diego, CA, USA; 2001. p. 286–96.
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Hübers H-W, Schubert J, Krabbe A, Birk M, Wagner G, Semenov A, et al. Parylene anti-reflection coating of a quasi-optical hot-electron-bolometric mixer at terahertz frequencies. Infrared Physics & Technology. 2001;42(1):41–7.
Abstract: Parylene C was investigated as anti-reflection coating for silicon at terahertz frequencies. Measurements with a Fourier-transform spectrometer show that the transmittance of pure silicon can be improved by about 30% when applying a layer of Parylene C with a quarter wavelength optical thickness. The 10% bandwidth of this coating extends from 1.5 to 3 THz for a center frequency of 2.3–2.5 THz, where the transmittance is constant. Heterodyne measurements demonstrate that the noise temperature of a hot-electron-bolometric mixer can be reduced significantly by coating the silicon lens of the hybrid antenna with a quarter wavelength Parylene C layer. Compared to the same mixer with an uncoated lens the improvement is about 30% at a frequency of 2.5 THz.
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Hübers H-W, Semenov A, Holldack K, Schade U, Wüstefeld G, Gol’tsman G. Time domain analysis of coherent terahertz synchrotron radiation. Appl Phys Lett. 2005;87(18):184103 (1 to 3).
Abstract: The time structure of coherent terahertz synchrotron radiation at the electron storage ring of the Berliner Elektronensynchrotron und Speicherring Gesellschaft has been analyzed with a fast superconducting hot-electron bolometer. The emission from a single bunch of electrons was found to last ∼1500ps at frequencies around 0.4THz, which is much longer than the length of an electron bunch in the time domain (∼5ps). It is suggested that this is caused by multiple reflections at the walls of the beam line. The quadratic increase of the power with the number of electrons in the bunch as predicted for coherent synchrotron radiation and the transition from stable to bursting radiation were determined from a single storage ring fill pattern of bunches with different populations.
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Hübers H-W, Semenov A, Richter H, Birk M, Krocka M, Mair U, et al. Terahertz Heterodyn Receiver with a hot-electron bolometer mixer. In: Wolf U, Farhoomand J, McCreight CR, editors. Far-IR, Sub-mm & MM Detector Technology Workshop. NASA; 2002. p. 3–24. (NASA CP).
Abstract: During the past decade major advances have been made regarding low noise mixers for terahertz (THz) heterodyne receivers. State of the art hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers have noise temperatures close to the quantum limit and require less than a µW power from the local oscillator (LO). The technology is now at a point where the performance of a practical receiver employing such mixer, rather than the figures of merit of the mixer itself, are of major concern. We have incorporated a phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer in a 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver and investigated the performance of the receiver. This yields important information for the development of heterodyne receivers such as GREAT (German receiver for astronomy at THz frequencies aboard SOFIA) [1] and TELIS (Terahertz limb sounder), a balloon borne heterodyne receiver for atmospheric research [2]. Both are currently under development at DLR.
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Hübers H-W, Semenov A, Richter H, Birk M, Krocka M, Mair U, et al. Terahertz heterodyne receiver with a hot-electron bolometer mixer. In: Wold J, Davidson J, editors. Proc. Far-IR, Sub-mm, and mm Detector Technology Workshop.; 2002.
Abstract: During the past decade major advances have been made regarding low noise mixers for terahertz (THz) heterodyne receivers. State of the art hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers have noise temperatures close to the quantum limit and require less than a µW power from the local oscillator (LO). The technology is now at a point where the performance of a practical receiver employing such mixer, rather than the figures of merit of the mixer itself, are of major concern. We have incorporated a phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer in a 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver and investigated the performance of the receiver. This yields important information for the development of heterodyne receivers such as GREAT (German receiver for astronomy at THz frequencies aboard SOFIA)[1] and TELIS (Terahertz limb sounder), a balloon borne heterodyne receiver for atmospheric research [2]. Both are currently under development at DLR.
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Hubers H-W, Semenov A, Richter H, Schwarz M, Gunther B, Smirnov K, et al. Heterodyne receiver for 3-5 THz with hot-electron bolometer mixer. In: Zmuidzinas J, Holland WS, Withington S, editors. Proc. SPIE. Vol 5498. SPIE; 2004. p. 579–86.
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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Hübers H-W, Semenov A, Richter H, Smirnov K, Gol'tsman G, Voronov B. Phonon cooled far-infrared hot electron bolometer mixer [abstract]. In: NASA/ADS.; 2002.
Abstract: Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy need quantum-limited sensitivity. At frequencies above 1.4 THz superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) can be used to achieve this goal. We present results of the development of a quasi-optical phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer for GREAT, the German heterodyne receiver for SOFIA. Different 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 several frequencies between 0.7 THz and 5.2 THz. At 2.5 THz a double sideband noise temperature of 2200 K was achieved. The conversion loss was 16 dB. The response of the mixer was linear up to 400 K load temperature. This performance was verified by measuring an emission line of methanol at 2.5 THz. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for FIR heterodyne receivers.
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Hübers H-W, Semenov A, Schubert J, Gol'tsman G, Voronov B, Gershenzon E. Performance of the phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer between 0.7 THz and 5.2 THz. In: Proc. 8-th Int. Conf. on Terahertz Electronics.; 2000. p. 117–9.
Abstract: We report on the phonon cooled NbN hot electron bolometer as mixer in the terahertz frequency range. Its hybrid antenna consists of a hyperhemispheric silicon lens and a logarithmic-spiral feed antenna. Noise temperatures have been measured between 0.7 THz and 5.2 THz. A quarter wavelength layer of Parylene works as antireflection coating for the silicon lens and reduces the noise temperature by about 30. It was found that the antenna pattern at 2.5 THz is determined by the feed antenna and not by the diameter of the lens.
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