Shcherbatenko M, Tretyakov I, Lobanov Y, Maslennikov SN, Kaurova N, Finkel M, et al. Nonequilibrium interpretation of DC properties of NbN superconducting hot electron bolometers. Appl. Phys. Lett.. 2016;109(13):132602.
Abstract: We present a physically consistent interpretation of the dc electrical properties of niobiumnitride (NbN)-based superconducting hot-electron bolometer mixers, using concepts of nonequilibrium superconductivity. Through this, we clarify what physical information can be extracted from the resistive transition and the dc current-voltage characteristics, measured at suitably chosen temperatures, and relevant for device characterization and optimization. We point out that the intrinsic spatial variation of the electronic properties of disordered superconductors, such as NbN, leads to a variation from device to device.
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Lobanov Y, Shcherbatenko M, Semenov A, Kovalyuk V, Kahl O, Ferrari S, et al. Superconducting nanowire single photon detector for coherent detection of weak signals. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond. 2017;27(4):1–5.
Abstract: Traditional photon detectors are operated in the direct detection mode, counting incident photons with a known quantum efficiency. Here, we have investigated a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) operated as a photon counting mixer at telecommunication wavelength around 1.5 μm. This regime of operation combines excellent sensitivity of a photon counting detector with excellent spectral resolution given by the heterodyne technique. Advantageously, we have found that low local oscillator (LO) power of the order of hundreds of femtowatts to a few picowatts is sufficient for clear observation of the incident test signal with the sensitivity approaching the quantum limit. With further optimization, the required LO power could be significantly reduced, which is promising for many practical applications, such as the development of receiver matrices or recording ultralow signals at a level of less-than-one-photon per second. In addition to a traditional NbN-based SNSPD operated with normal incidence coupling, we also use detectors with a travelling wave geometry, where a NbN nanowire is placed on the top of a Si 3 N 4 nanophotonic waveguide. This approach is fully scalable and a large number of devices could be integrated on a single chip.
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Gayduchenko I, Kardakova A, Fedorov G, Voronov B, Finkel M, Jiménez D, et al. Response of asymmetric carbon nanotube network devices to sub-terahertz and terahertz radiation. J Appl Phys. 2015;118(19):194303.
Abstract: Demand for efficient terahertz radiation detectors resulted in intensive study of the asymmetric carbon nanostructures as a possible solution for that problem. It was maintained that photothermoelectric effect under certain conditions results in strong response of such devices to terahertz radiation even at room temperature. In this work, we investigate different mechanisms underlying the response of asymmetric carbon nanotube (CNT) based devices to sub-terahertz and terahertz radiation. Our structures are formed with CNT networks instead of individual CNTs so that effects probed are more generic and not caused by peculiarities of an individual nanoscale object. We conclude that the DC voltage response observed in our structures is not only thermal in origin. So called diode-type response caused by asymmetry of the device IV characteristic turns out to be dominant at room temperature. Quantitative analysis provides further routes for the optimization of the device configuration, which may result in appearance of novel terahertz radiation detectors.
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Semenov AV, Devyatov IA, Ryabchun SA, Maslennikov SN, Maslennikova AS, Larionov PA, et al. Absorption of terahertz electromagnetic radiation in dirty superconducting film at arbitrary type of the spectral functions. Rus J Radio Electron. 2011;(10).
Abstract: A problem of absorption of high-frequency electromagnetic field in dirty superconductor is treated within Keldysh technic. Expression for the source term in the kinetic equation for quasiparticle distribution function is derived. The result is significant for deriving a consistent microscopic theory of superconducting detectors for terahertz frequency range, perspective detectors on kinetic inductance of current-biased superconducting strip and on Josephson inductance of tunnel.
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Shcherbatenko M, Lobanov Y, Semenov A, Kovalyuk V, Korneev A, Ozhegov R, et al. Coherent detection of weak signals with superconducting nanowire single photon detector at the telecommunication wavelength. In: Prochazka I, Sobolewski R, James RB, editors. Proc. SPIE. Vol 10229. Spie; 2017. 0G (1 to 12).
Abstract: Achievement of the ultimate sensitivity along with a high spectral resolution is one of the frequently addressed problems, as the complication of the applied and fundamental scientific tasks being explored is growing up gradually. In our work, we have investigated performance of a superconducting nanowire photon-counting detector operating in the coherent mode for detection of weak signals at the telecommunication wavelength. Quantum-noise limited sensitivity of the detector was ensured by the nature of the photon-counting detection and restricted by the quantum efficiency of the detector only. Spectral resolution given by the heterodyne technique and was defined by the linewidth and stability of the Local Oscillator (LO). Response bandwidth was found to coincide with the detector’s pulse width, which, in turn, could be controlled by the nanowire length. In addition, the system noise bandwidth was shown to be governed by the electronics/lab equipment, and the detector noise bandwidth is predicted to depend on its jitter. As have been demonstrated, a very small amount of the LO power (of the order of a few picowatts down to hundreds of femtowatts) was required for sufficient detection of the test signal, and eventual optimization could lead to further reduction of the LO power required, which would perfectly suit for the foreseen development of receiver matrices and the need for detection of ultra-low signals at a level of less-than-one-photon per second.
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