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Baubert J, Salez M, Delorme Y, Pons P, Goltsman G, Merkel H, et al. Membrane-based HEB mixer for THz applications. In: Chiao J-C, Varadan VK, Cané C, editors. Proc. SPIE. Vol 5116. SPIE; 2003. p. 551–62.
Abstract: We report in this paper a new concept for 2.7 THz superconducting Niobium nitride (NbN) Hot-Electron Bolometer mixer (HEB). The membrane process was developped for space telecommnunication applications a few years ago and the HEB mixer concept is now considered as the best choice for low-noise submillimeter-wave frequency heterodyne receivers. The idea is then to join these two technologies. The novel fabrication scheme is to fabricate a NbN HEB mixer on a 1 μm thick stress-less Si3N4/SiO2 membrane. This seems to present numerous improvements concerning : use at higher RF frequencies, power coupling efficiency, HEB mixer sensitivity, noise temperature, and space applications. This work is to be continued within the framework of an ESA TRP project, a 2.7 THz heterodyne camera with numerous applications including a SOFIA airborne receiver. This paper presents the whole fabrication process, the validation tests and preliminary results. Membrane-based HEB mixer theory is currently being investigated and further tests such as heterodyne and Fourier transform spectrometry measurement are planed shortly.
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Alexandre Karpov, David Miller, Rice FR, Stern JA, Bruce Bumble, LeDuc HG, et al. Low-noise SIS mixer for far-infrared radio astronomy. In: Proc. SPIE. Vol 5498. Glasgow, Scotland, UK; 2004. p. 616–21.
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Yngvesson KS, Gerecht E, Musante CF, Zhuang Y, Ji M, Goyette TM, et al. Low-noise HEB heterodyne receivers and focal plane arrays for the THz regime using NbN. In: Hwu RJ, Wu K, editors. Proc. SPIE. Vol 3795. SPIE; 1999. p. 357–68.
Abstract: We have developed prototype HEB receivers using thin film superconducting NbN devices deposited on silicon substrates. The devices are quasi-optically coupled through a silicon lens and a self-complementary log-specific toothed antenna. We measured DSB receiver noise temperatures of 500 K (13 X hf/2k) at 1.56 THz and 1,100 K (20 X hf/2k) at 2.24 THz. Noise temperatures are expected to fall further as devices and quasi-optical coupling methods are being optimized. The measured 3 dB IF conversion gain bandwidth for one device was 3 GHz, and it is estimated that the bandwidth over which the receiver noise temperature is within 3 dB of its minimum value is 6.5 GHz which is sufficient for a number of practical applications. We will discuss our latest results and give a detailed description of our prototype setup and experiments. We will also discuss our plans for developing focal plane arrays with tens of Hot Electron Bolometric mixer elements on a single silicon substrate which will make real time imaging systems in the THz region feasible.
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Piotr슠Orleanski, Miroslaw슠Ciechanowicz, Malgorzata슠Michalska, Witold슠Nowosielski, Miroslaw슠Rataj, Marek슠Winkler. LCU: the control unit dedicated for local oscillator subsystem in ESA HIFI/Herschel project. In: Proc. SPIE. Vol 6159.; 2006.
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Boreman GD. Infrared microantennas. SPIE. 1997;3110:882–5.
Abstract: We present results of mesurments of the polarization response of asymetric spiral antennas coupled Ni-NiO-Ni diodes, over the wavelength range 10.2 to 10.7 μm. The feed structure of the antenna imposes an elliptical polarization singature that is different from the circular polarization expected from a symmetric spiral. We develop a lossy-transmission-line model yielding the measured polarization response. A combination of a balanced and an unbalanced mode is required. Reflected current waves from the arm ends are significant.
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