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Jiang L, Antipov SV, Voronov BM, Gol'tsman GN, Zhang W, Li N, et al. Characterization of the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2007;17(2):395–8.
Abstract: In this paper we focus mainly on the investigation of the performance of a quasi-optical (planar log-spiral antenna) phonon-cooled NbN superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer, which is cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K cryocooler, at 500 and 850 GHz frequency bands. The mixer's noise performance, stability of IF output power, and local oscillator (LO) power requirement are characterized for three NbN superconducting HEB devices of different sizes. The transmission characteristics of Mylar and Zitex films with incidence waves of an elliptical polarization are also examined by measuring the mixer's noise temperature. The lowest receiver noise temperatures (with no corrections) of 750 and 1100 K are measured at 500 and 850 GHz, respectively. Experimental results also demonstrate that the bigger the HEB device is, the higher the stability of IF output power becomes.
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Loudkov D, Tong C-YE, Blundell R, Kaurova N, Grishina E, Voronov B, et al. An investigation of the performance of the superconducting HEB mixer as a function of its RF embedding impedance. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):472–5.
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.
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Pearlman A, Cross A, Slysz W, Zhang J, Verevkin A, Currie M, et al. Gigahertz counting rates of NbN single-photon detectors for quantum communications. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):579–82.
Abstract: We report on the GHz counting rate and jitter of our nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). The devices were patterned in 4-nm-thick and about 100-nm-wide NbN meander stripes and covered a 10-/spl mu/m/spl times/10-/spl mu/m area. We were able to count single photons at both the visible and infrared telecommunication wavelengths at rates of over 2 GHz with a timing jitter of below 18 ps. We also present the model for the origin of the SSPD switching dynamics and jitter, based on the time-delay effect in the phase-slip-center formation mechanism during the detector photoresponse process. With further improvements in our readout electronics, we expect that our SSPDs will reach counting rates of up to 10 GHz. An integrated quantum communications receiver based on two fiber-coupled SSPDs and operating at 1550-nm wavelength is also presented.
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Yang JKW, Dauler E, Ferri A, Pearlman A, Verevkin A, Gol’tsman G, et al. Fabrication development for nanowire GHz-counting-rate single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):626–30.
Abstract: We have developed a fabrication process for GHz-counting-rate, single-photon, high-detection-efficiency, NbN, nanowire detectors. We have demonstrated two processes for the device patterning, one based on the standard polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) organic positive-tone electron-beam resist, and the other based on the newer hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) negative-tone spin-on-glass resist. The HSQ-based process is simple and robust, providing high resolution and the prospect of high fill-factors. Initial testing results show superconductivity in the films, and suggest that the devices exhibit photosensitivity.
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Korneev A, Matvienko V, Minaeva O, Milostnaya I, Rubtsova I, Chulkova G, et al. Quantum efficiency and noise equivalent power of nanostructured, NbN, single-photon detectors in the wavelength range from visible to infrared. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):571–4.
Abstract: We present our studies on the quantum efficiency (QE) and the noise equivalent power (NEP) of the latest-generation, nanostructured, superconducting, single-photon detectors (SSPDs) in the wavelength range from 0.5 to 5.6 /spl mu/m, operated at temperatures in the 2.0- to 4.2-K range. Our detectors are designed as 4-nm-thick and 100-nm-wide NbN meander-shaped stripes, patterned by electron-beam lithography and cover a 10/spl times/10-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ active area. The best-achieved QE at 2.0 K for 1.55-/spl mu/m photons is 17%, and QE for 1.3-/spl mu/m infrared photons reaches its saturation value of /spl sim/30%. The SSPD NEP at 2.0 K is as low as 5/spl times/10/sup -21/ W/Hz/sup -1/2/. Our nanostructured SSPDs, operated at 2.0 K, significantly outperform their semiconducting counterparts, and, together with their GHz counting rate and picosecond timing jitter, they are devices-of-choice for practical quantum key distribution systems and free-space (even interplanetary) quantum optical communications.
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Baubert J, Salez M, Merkel H, Pons P, Cherednichenko S, Lecomte B, et al. IF gain bandwidth of membrane-based NbN hot electron bolometers for SHAHIRA. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):507–10.
Abstract: SHAHIRA (Submm Heterodyne Array for HIgh-speed Radio Astronomy) is a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is designed to fly on the SOFIA observatory. A quasi-optic design has been chosen for 2.5/2.7 THz and 4.7 THz, for hydroxyde radical OH, deuterated hydrogen HD and neutral atomic oxygen OI lines observations. Hot electron bolometers (HEBs) have been processed on 1 /spl mu/m thick SiO/sub 2//Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ stress-less membranes. In this paper we analyse the intermediate frequency (IF) gain bandwidth from the theoretical point of view, and compare it to measurements.
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Jiang L, Li J, Zhang W, Yao QJ, Lin ZL, Shi SC, et al. Characterization of NbN HEB mixers cooled by a close-cycled 4 Kelvin refrigerator. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2005;15(2):511–3.
Abstract: It is quite beneficial to operate superconducting hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers with a close-cycled 4 Kelvin refrigerator for real applications such as astronomy and atmospheric research. In this paper, a phononcooled NbN HEB mixer (quasioptical type) is thoroughly characterized under such a cooling circumstance. The effects of mechanical vibration, electrical interference, and temperature fluctuation of a two-stage Gifford-McMahon 4 Kelvin refrigerator upon the characteristics of the phononcooled NbN HEB mixer are investigated in particular. Detailed measurement results are presented.
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Slysz W, Wegrzecki M, Bar J, Grabiec P, Gol'tsman GN, Verevkin M, et al. NbN superconducting single-photon detectors coupled with a communication fiber. Vol 37.; 2004.
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Beebe MR, Beringer DB, Burton MC, Yang K, Lukaszew RA. Stoichiometry and thickness dependence of superconducting properties of niobium nitride thin films. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films. 2016;34(2):021510 (1 to 4).
Abstract: The current technology used in linear particle accelerators is based on superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities fabricated from bulk niobium (Nb), which have smaller surface resistance and therefore dissipate less energy than traditional nonsuperconducting copper cavities. Using bulk Nb for the cavities has several advantages, which are discussed elsewhere; however, such SRF cavities have a material-dependent accelerating gradient limit. In order to overcome this fundamental limit, a multilayered coating has been proposed using layers of insulating and superconducting material applied to the interior surface of the cavity. The key to this multilayered model is to use superconducting thin films to exploit the potential field enhancement when these films are thinner than their London penetration depth. Such field enhancement has been demonstrated in MgB2 thin films; here, the authors consider films of another type-II superconductor, niobium nitride (NbN). The authors present their work correlating stoichiometry and superconducting properties in NbN thin films and discuss the thickness dependence of their superconducting properties, which is important for their potential use in the proposed multilayer structure. While there are some previous studies on the relationship between stoichiometry and critical temperature TC, the authors are the first to report on the correlation between stoichiometry and the lower critical field HC1.
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Gol’tsman GN, Smirnov K, Kouminov P, Voronov B, Kaurova N, Drakinsky V, et al. Fabrication of nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2003;13(2):192–5.
Abstract: Fabrication of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors, based on the hotspot effect is presented. The hotspot formation arises in an ultrathin and submicrometer-width superconductor stripe and, together with the supercurrent redistribution, leads to the resistive detector response upon absorption of a photon. The detector has a meander structure to maximally increase its active area and reach the highest detection efficiency. Main processing steps, leading to efficient devices, sensitive in 0.4-5 /spl mu/m wavelength range, are presented. The impact of various processing steps on the performance and operational parameters of our detectors is discussed.
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