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Author |
Tong, C. Edward; Trifonov, Andrey; Blundell, Raymond; Shurakov, Alexander; Gol’tsman, Gregory |
Title |
A digital terahertz power meter based on an NbN thin film |
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Abstract |
Year |
2014 |
Publication |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 25th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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170 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
We have further studied the effect of subjecting a superconducting Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) element made from an NbN thin film to microwave radiation. Since the photon energy is weak, the microwave radiation does not simply heat the film, but generates a bi-static state, switching between the superconducting and normal states, upon the application of a small voltage bias. Indeed, a relaxation oscillation of a few MHz has previously been reported in this regime [1]. Switching between the superconducting and normal states modulates the reflected microwave pump power from the device. A simple homodyne setup readily recovers the spontaneous switching waveform in the time domain. The switching frequency is a function of both the bias voltage (DC heating) and the applied microwave power. In this work, we use a 0.8 THz HEB waveguide mixer for the purpose of demonstration. The applied microwave pump, coupled through a directional coupler, is at 1 GHz. Since the pump power is of the order of a few μW, a room temperature amplifier is sufficient to amplify the reflected pump power from the HEB mixer, which beats with the microwave source in a homodyne set-up. After further amplification, the switching waveform is passed onto a frequency counter. The typical frequency of the switching pulses is 3-5 MHz. It is found that the digital frequency count increases with higher microwave pump power. When the HEB mixer is subjected to additional optical power at 0.8 THz, the frequency count also increases. When we vary the incident optical power by using a wire grid attenuator, a linear relationship is observed between the frequency count and the applied optical power, over at least an order of magnitude of power. This phenomenon can be exploited to develop a digital power meter, using a very simple electronics setup. Further experiments are under way to determine the range of linearity and the accuracy of calibration transfer from the microwave to the THz regime. References 1. Y. Zhuang, and S. Yngvesson, “Detection and interpretation of bistatic effects in NbN HEB devices,” Proc. 13 th Int. Symp. Space THz Tech., 2002, pp. 463–472. |
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1366 |
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Author |
Ryabchun, S.; Tong, C.-yu E.; Blundell, R.; Kimberk, R.; Gol’tsman, G. |
Title |
Effect of microwave radiation on the stability of terahertz hot-electron bolometer mixers |
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Conference Article |
Year |
2006 |
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Proc. SPIE |
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Proc. SPIE |
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6373 |
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63730J (1 to 5) |
Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers, hot-electron bolometer mixers, stability, Allan variance, LO power fluctuations |
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We report our studies of the effect of microwave radiation, with a frequency much lower than that corresponding to the energy gap of the superconductor, on the performance of the NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer incorporated into a THz heterodyne receiver. It is shown that exposing the HEB mixer to microwave radiation does not result in a significant rise of the receiver noise temperature and degradation of the mixer conversion gain so long as the level of microwave power is small compared to the local oscillator drive. Hence the injection of a small, but controlled amount of microwave radiation enables active compensation of local oscillator power and coupling fluctuations which can significantly degrade the stability of HEB mixer receivers. |
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SPIE |
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Anwar, M.; DeMaria, A.J.; Shur, M.S. |
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Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems |
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1441 |
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Loudkov, D.; Tong, C.-Y.E.; Blundell, R.; Kaurova, N.; Grishina, E.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G. |
Title |
An investigation of the performance of the waveguide superconducting HEB mixer at different RF embedding impedances |
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Conference Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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226-229 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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We have conducted an investigation of the performance of superconducting hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixer at 800 GHz as a function of the embedding impedance of the waveguide embedding circuit. Using a single half-height mixer block, we have developed three different mixer chip configurations, offering nominal embedding resistances of 70, 35, and 15 Ohms. Both the High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software and scaled model impedance measurements were employed in the design process. Two batches of HEB mixers were fabricated to these designs using 3-4 nm thick NbN thin film. The mixers were characterized through receiver noise temperature measurements and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) scans. Briefly, a minimum receiver noise temperature of 440 K was measured at a local oscillator frequency 850 GHz for a mixer of normal state resistance 62 Ohms incorporated into a circuit offering a nominal embedding impedance of 70 Ohms. We conclude from our data that, for low noise operation, the normal state resistance of the HEB mixer element should be close to that of the embedding impedance of the mixer mount. |
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1472 |
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Loudkov, D.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Marrone, D. P.; Ryabchun, S.; Paine, S. N.; Blundell, R. |
Title |
Transmission measurements of infrared filters for low-noise terahertz receiver applications |
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Conference Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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354-357 |
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FTS, Zitex, alkali halide, crystalline quartz, Parylene, polyethylene, IR filters, transmission, THz applications |
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Infrared (IR) filters are very important to the efficient operation of cryogenic receivers. Usually, such filters are mounted on the radiation shield of the cryostat to reduce the heat load to the 4 K stage. Insufficient filtering may cause the temperature of the mixing element in a receiver to be excessively warm, leading to degradation in sensitivity. These filters should be effective in blocking the room temperature IR radiation from outside the cryostat, yet should be transparent across the desired signal frequency band. In the Terahertz frequency range, which is close to the infrared, it is difficult to find an inexpensive low- loss material that can provide the required IR blocking capacity. We present transmission measurements, made using a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), of a number of potential infrared filters between 0.4 and 1.6 THz. The filters tested include the widely-used, Teflon-based, Zitex-A and Zitex-G films, alkali halide based infrared filter, and crystalline quartz coated with Parylene, and polyethylene films. |
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1473 |
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Author |
Edward Tong, C.-Y.; Loudkov, Denis N.; Paine, Scott N.; Marrone, Dan P.; Blundell, Raymond |
Title |
Vector measurement of the beam pattern of a 1.5 THz superconducting HEB receiver |
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Conference Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 16th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. |
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Pages |
453-456 |
Keywords |
NbTiN HEB mixers |
Abstract |
Near-field vector beam pattern of the 1.5 THz superconducting Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) receiver currently in operation in Northern Chile has been performed in our laboratory. Using an open waveguide probe, we have mapped both the amplitude and phase of the beam emerging from our 1.5 THz HEB receiver package, across a number of planes along the line of propagation of the radio-beam. With an integration time of about 100 ms per point, a signal-to-noise ratio of about 25 dB was achieved for a beam waist of 3.5 mm. These measurements have proved to be invaluable in achieving good alignment between the cryostat housing the HEB mixer and the remainder of the receiver and telescope optics. The accuracy of our beam measurement is estimated to be ±0.2 mm in position and ±5 arc minutes in angular displacement. |
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1474 |
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