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Gershenson ME, Gong D, Sato T, Karasik BS, Sergeev AV. Millisecond electron-phonon relaxation in ultrathin disordered metal films at millikelvin temperatures. Appl. Phys. Lett.. 2001;79:2049–51.
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Cherednichenko S, Kroug M, Merkel H, Kollberg E, Loudkov D, Smirnov K, et al. Local oscillator power requirement and saturation effects in NbN HEB mixers. In: Jet Propulsion Laboratory CIit.u.t.e of T, editor. Proc. 12th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. San Diego, CA, USA; 2001. p. 273–85.
Abstract: The local oscillator power required for NbN hot-electron bolometric mixers (P LO ) was investigated with respect to mixer size, critical temperature and ambient temperature. P LO can be decreased by a factor of 10 as the mixer size decreases from 4×0.4 µm 2 to 0.6×0.13 µm 2 . For the smallest volume mixer the optimal local oscillator power was found to be 15 nW. We found that for such mixer no signal compression was observed up to an input signal of 2 nW which corresponds to an equivalent input load of 20,000 K. For a constant mixer volume, reduction of T c can decrease optimal local oscillator power at least by a factor of 2 without a deterioration of the receiver noise temperature. Bath temperature was found to have minor effect on the receiver characteristics.
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Kroug M, Cherednichenko S, Choumas M, Merkel H, Kollberg E, Hübers H-W, et al. HEB quasi-optical heterodyne receiver for THz frequencies. In: Proc. 12th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. San Diego, CA, USA; 2001. p. 244–52.
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Maslennikov S, Antipov S, Shishkov A, Svechnikov S, Voronov B, Smirnov K, et al. NbN HEB mixer noise temperature measurements with hot/cold load mounted inside the helium cryostat at 300 GHz. In: Proc. Int. Student Seminar on Microwave Appl. of Novel Physical Phenomena supported by IEEE. St.-Petersburg: LETI; 2002.
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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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Vahtomin YB, Finkel MI, Antipov SV, Voronov BM, Smirnov KV, Kaurova NS, et al. Gain bandwidth of phonon-cooled HEB mixer made of NbN thin film with MgO buffer layer on Si. In: Harvard university, editor. Proc. 13th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Cambridge, MA, USA; 2002. p. 259–70.
Abstract: We present recently obtained values for gain bandwidth of NbN HEB mixers for different substrates and film thicknesses and for MgO buffer layer on Si at LO frequency of 0.85-1 THz. The maximal bandwidth, 5.2 GHz, was achieved for the device on MgO buffer layer on Si with a 2 nm thick NbN film. Functional devices based on NbN films of such thickness were fabricated for the first time due to an improvement of superconducting properties of NbN film deposited on MgO buffer layer on Si substrate.
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Meledin D, Tong CY-E, Blundell R, Kaurova N, Smirnov K, Voronov B, et al. The sensitivity and IF bandwidth of waveguide NbN hot electron bolometer mixers on MgO buffer layers over crystalline quartz. In: Harvard university, editor. Proc. 13th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Cambridge, MA, USA; 2002. p. 65–72.
Abstract: We have developed and characterized waveguide phonon-cooled NbN Hot Electron Bolometer (FMB) mixers fabricated from a 3-4 nm thick NbN film deposited on a 200nm thick MgO buffer layer over crystalline quartz. Double side band receiver noise temperatures of 900-1050 K at 1.035 THz, and 1300-1400 K at 1.26 THz have been measured at an intermediate frequency of 1.5 GHz. The intermediate frequency bandwidth, measured at 0.8 THz LO frequency, is 3.2 GHz at the optimal bias point for low noise receiver operation.
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Cherednichenko S, Kroug M, Khosropanah P, Adam A, Merkel H, Kolberg E, et al. A broadband terahertz heterodyne receiver with an NbN HEB mixer. In: Harward University, editor. Proc. 13th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Cambridge, MA, USA; 2002. p. 85–95.
Abstract: We present a broadband and low noise heterodyne receiver for 1.4-1.7 THz designed for the Hershel Space Observatory. A phonon- cooled NbN HEB mixer was integrated with a normal metal double- slot antenna and an elliptical silicon lens. DSB receiver noise temperature Tr was measured from 1 GHz through 8GHz intermediate frequency band with 50 MHz instantaneous bandwidth. At 4.2 K bath temperature and at 1.6 THz LO frequency Tr is 800 K with the receiver noise bandwidth of 5 GHz. While at 2 K bath temperature Tr was as low as 700 K. At 0.6 THz and 1.1 THz a spiral antenna integrated NbN HEB mixer showed the receiver noise temperature 500 K and 800 K, though no antireflection coating was used in this case. Tr of 1100 K was achieved at 2.5 THz while the receiver noise bandwidth was 4 GHz.
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Huebers H-W, Semenov A, Richter H, Birk M, Krocka M, Mair U, et al. Superconducting hot electron bolometer as mixer for far-infrared heterodyne receivers. In: Phillips TG, Zmuidzinas J, editors. Proc. SPIE. Vol 4855. Tucson, USA: SPIE; 2003. p. 395–401. (Presented at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference; vol 4855).
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.
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Hajenius M, Baselmans JJA, Gao JR, Klapwijk TM, de Korte PAJ, Voronov B, et al. Improved NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometer mixers. In: Proc. 14th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Tucson, USA; 2003. p. 413–23.
Abstract: NbN phonon-cooled hot electron bolometer mixers (HEBs) have been realized with negligible contact resistance to Au pads. By adding either a 5 nm Nb or a 10 nm NbTiN layer between the Au and NbN, to preserve superconductivity in the NbN under the Au contact pad, superior noise temperatures have been obtained. Using DC I,V curves and resistive transitions in combination with process parameters we analyze the nature of these improved devices and determine interface transparencies.
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