Records |
Author |
Baselmans, J.; Kooi, J.; Baryshev, A.; Yang, Z. Q.; Hajenius, M.; Gao, J. R.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G. |
Title |
Full characterization of small volume NbN HEB mixers for space applications |
Type |
Conference Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
457-462 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
NbN phonon cooled HEB’s are one of the most promising bolometer mixer technologies for (near) future (space) applications. Their performance is usually quantified by mea- suring the receiver noise temperature at a given IF frequency, usually around 1 – 2 GHz. However, for any real applications it is vital that one fully knows all the relevant properties of the mixer, including LO power, stability, direct detection, gain bandwidth and noise bandwidth, not only the noise temperature at low IF frequencies. To this aim we have measured all these parameters at the optimal operating point of one single, small volume quasioptical NbN HEB mixer. We find a minimum noise temperature of 900 K at 1.46 THz. We observe a direct detection effect indicated by a change in bias current when changing from a 300 K hot load to a 77 K cold load. Due to this effect we overestimate the noise temperature by about 22% using a 300 K hot load and a 77 K cold load. The LO power needed to reach the optimal operating point is 80 nW at the receiver lens front, 59 nW inside the NbN bridge. However, using the isothermal technique we find a power absorbed in the NbN bridge of 25 nW, a difference of about a factor 2. We obtain a gain bandwidth of 2.3 GHz and a noise bandwidth of 4 GHz. The system Allan time is about 1 sec. in a 50 MHz spectral bandwidth and a deviation from white noise integration (governed by the radiometer equation) occurs at 0.2 sec., which implies a maximum integration time of a few seconds in a 1 MHz bandwidth spectrometer. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
Göteborg, Sweden |
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 |
363 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Semenov, A. D.; Hübers, H.-W.; Richter, H.; Birk, M.; Krocka, M.; Mair, U.; Smirnov, K.; Gol'tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M. |
Title |
2.5 THz heterodyne receiver with NbN hot-electron-bolometer mixer |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Phys. C: Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. C: Supercond. |
Volume |
372-376 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
448-453 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers, applications |
Abstract |
We describe a 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver for applications in astronomy and atmospheric research. The receiver employs a superconducting NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron-bolometer mixer and an optically pumped far-infrared gas laser as local oscillator. 2200 K double sideband mixer noise temperature was measured at 2.5 THz across a 1 GHz intermediate frequency bandwidth centred at 1.5 GHz. The total conversion losses were 17 dB. The mixer response was linear at load temperatures smaller than 400 K. The receiver was tested in the laboratory environment by measuring the methanol line in emission. Observed pressure broadening confirms the true heterodyne detection regime of the mixer. |
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 |
0921-4534 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
|
Serial |
1526 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Semenov, Alexei; Richter, Heiko; Smirnov, Konstantin; Voronov, Boris; Gol'tsman, Gregory; Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm |
Title |
The development of terahertz superconducting hot-electron bolometric mixers |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Supercond. Sci. Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Supercond. Sci. Technol. |
Volume |
17 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
436-439 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
We present recent advances in the development of NbN hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixers for flying terahertz heterodyne receivers. Three important issues have been addressed: the quality of the source NbN films, the effect of the bolometer size on the spectral properties of different planar feed antennas, and the local oscillator (LO) power required for optimal operation of the mixer. Studies of the NbN films with an atomic force microscope indicated a surface structure that may affect the performance of the smallest mixers. Measured spectral gain and noise temperature suggest that at frequencies above 2.5 THz the spiral feed provides better overall performance than the double-slot feed. Direct measurements of the optimal LO power support earlier estimates made in the framework of the uniform mixer model. |
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 |
357 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Cherednichenko, S.; Kroug, M.; Merkel, H.; Khosropanah, P.; Adam, A.; Kollberg, E.; Loudkov, D.; Gol'tsman, G.; Voronov, B.; Richter, H.; Huebers, H.-W. |
Title |
1.6 THz heterodyne receiver for the far infrared space telescope |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Phys. C: Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Phys. C: Supercond. |
Volume |
372-376 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
427-431 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers, applications |
Abstract |
A low noise heterodyne receiver is being developed for the terahertz range using a phonon-cooled hot-electron bolometric mixer based on 3.5 nm thick superconducting NbN film. In the 1–2 GHz intermediate frequency band the double-sideband receiver noise temperature was 450 K at 0.6 THz, 700 K at 1.6 THz and 1100 K at 2.5 THz. In the 3–8 GHz IF band the lowest receiver noise temperature was 700 K at 0.6 THz, 1500 K at 1.6 THz and 3000 K at 2.5 THz while it increased by a factor of 3 towards 8 GHz. |
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 |
0921-4534 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
|
Serial |
1527 |
Permanent link to this record |
|
|
|
Author |
Hajenius, M.; Baselmans, J. J. A.; Gao, J. R.; Klapwijk, T. M.; de Korte, P. A. J.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G. |
Title |
Improved NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometer mixers |
Type |
Conference Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Proc. 14th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 14th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
413-423 |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
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. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
Tucson, USA |
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 |
337 |
Permanent link to this record |