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Author Chen, J.; Kang, L.; Jin, B. B.; Xu, W. W.; Wu, P. H.; Zhang, W.; Jiang, L.; Li, N.; Shi, S. C.; Gol'tsman, G. N.
Title Properties of terahertz superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers Type Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Int. J. Terahertz Sci. Technol. Abbreviated Journal Int. J. Terahertz Sci. Technol.
Volume 1 Issue 1 Pages 37-41
Keywords NbN HEB mixers, noise temperature
Abstract A quasi-optical superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer has been fabricated and measured in the terahertz (THz) frequency range of 0.5~2.52 THz. A receiver noise temperature of 2000 K at 2.52 THz has been obtained for the mixer without corrections. Also, the effect of a Parylene C anti-reflection (AR) coating on the silicon (Si) lens has been studied.
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Call Number Serial 1417
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Author Ejrnaes, M.; Cristiano, R.; Quaranta, O.; Pagano, S.; Gaggero, A.; Mattioli, F.; Leoni, R.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title A cascade switching superconducting single photon detector Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 91 Issue 26 Pages 262509 (1 to 3)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD, parallel-wire
Abstract We have realized superconducting single photon detectors with reduced inductance and increased signal pulse amplitude. The detectors are based on a parallel connection of ultrathin NbN nanowires with a common bias inductance. When properly biased, an absorbed photon induces a cascade switch of all the parallel wires generating a signal pulse amplitude of 2mV. The parallel wire configuration lowers the detector inductance and reduces the response time well below 1ns.

This work was performed in the framework of the EU project “SINPHONIA” NMP4-CT-2005-016433.
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ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1418
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Author Bell, M.; Sergeev, A.; Mitin, V.; Bird, J.; Verevkin, A.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title One-dimensional resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors: Experiment and theory Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 76 Issue 9 Pages 094521 (1 to 5)
Keywords uasi-two-dimensional superconductors, NbN
Abstract We investigate competition between one- and two-dimensional topological excitations—phase slips and vortices—in the formation of resistive states in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors in a wide temperature range below the mean-field transition temperature TC0. The widths w=100nm of our ultrathin NbN samples are substantially larger than the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length ξ=4nm, and the fluctuation resistivity above TC0 has a two-dimensional character. However, our data show that the resistivity below TC0 is produced by one-dimensional excitations—thermally activated phase slip strips (PSSs) overlapping the sample cross section. We also determine the scaling phase diagram, which shows that even in wider samples the PSS contribution dominates over vortices in a substantial region of current and/or temperature variations. Measuring the resistivity within 7 orders of magnitude, we find that the quantum phase slips can only be essential below this level.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1098-0121 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1423
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Author Gao, J. R.; Hajenius, M.; Tichelaar, F. D.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Grishin, E.; Gol’tsman, G.; Zorman, C. A.; Mehregany, M.
Title Monocrystalline NbN nanofilms on a 3C-SiC∕Si substrate Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 91 Issue 6 Pages 062504 (1 to 3)
Keywords NbN films, nanofilms
Abstract The authors have realized NbN (100) nanofilms on a 3C-SiC (100)/Si(100) substrate by dc reactive magnetron sputtering at 800°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is used to characterize the films, showing a monocrystalline structure and confirming epitaxial growth on the 3C-SiC layer. A film ranging in thickness from 3.4to4.1nm shows a superconducting transition temperature of 11.8K, which is the highest reported for NbN films of comparable thickness. The NbN nano-films on 3C-SiC offer a promising alternative to improve terahertz detectors. For comparison, NbN nanofilms grown directly on Si substrates are also studied by HRTEM.

The authors acknowledge S. V. Svetchnikov at National Centre for HRTEM at Delft, who prepared the specimens for HRTEM inspections. This work was supported by the EU through RadioNet and INTAS.
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ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1425
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Author Ryabchun, S.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Kimberk, R.; Gol'tsman, G.
Title Study of the effect of microwave radiation on the operation of HEB mixers in the terahertz frequency range Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 391-394
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract We have investigated the effect of injecting microwave radiation, with a frequency much lower than that corresponding to the energy gap of the superconductor, on the performance of the hot-electron bolometer mixer incorporated into a THz heterodyne receiver. More specifically, we show that exposing the mixer to microwave radiation does not cause a significant rise of the receiver noise temperature and fall of the mixer conversion gain so long as the microwave power is a small fraction of local oscillator power. The injection of a small, but controlled amount of microwave power therefore enables active compensation of local oscillator power and coupling fluctuations which can significantly degrade the gain stability of hot electron bolometer mixer receivers.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1427
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Author Dauler, E. A.; Robinson, B. S.; Kerman, A. J.; Yang, J. K. W.; Rosfjord, E. K. M.; Anant, V.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G.; Berggren, K. K.
Title Multi-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detector Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 279-284
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract A multi-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector (MESNSPD) is presented that consists of multiple independently-biased superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) elements that form a continuous active area. A two-element SNSPD has been fabricated and tested, showing no measurable crosstalk between the elements, sub-50-ps relative timing jitter, and four times the maximum counting rate of a single SNSPD with the same active area. The MESNSPD can have a larger active area and higher speed than a single-element SNSPD and the input optics can be designed so that the detector provides spatial, spectral or photon number resolution.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1428
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Author Jiang, L.; Antipov, S. V.; Voronov, B. M.; Gol'tsman, G. N.; Zhang, W.; Li, N.; Lin, Z. H.; Yao, Q. J.; Miao, W.; Shi, S. C.; Svechnikov, S. I.; Vakhtomin, Y. B.
Title Characterization of the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 395-398
Keywords NbN HEB mixers, noise temperature
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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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1429
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Author Zhang, Wen; Li, Ning; Jiang, Ling; Miao, Wei; Lin, Zhen-Hui; Yao, Qi-Jun; Shi, Sheng-Cai; Chen, Jian; Wu, Pei-Heng; Svechnikov, S. I.; Vachtomin, Y. B.; Antipov, S. V.; Voronov, B. M.; Gol'tsman, G. N.
Title Noise behaviour of a THz superconducting hot-electron bolometer mixer Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Chinese Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Chinese Phys. Lett.
Volume 24 Issue 6 Pages 1778-1781
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract A quasi-optical superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer is measured in the frequency range of 0.5–2.5 THz for understanding of the frequency dependence of noise temperature of THz coherent detectors. It has been found that noise temperature increasing with frequency is mainly due to the coupling loss between the quasi-optical planar antenna and the superconducting HEB bridge when taking account of non-uniform distribution of high-frequency current. With the coupling loss corrected, the superconducting HEB mixer demonstrates a noise temperature nearly independent of frequency.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0256-307X ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1430
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Author Kerman, A. J.; Dauler, E. A.; Yang, J. K. W.; Rosfjord, K. M.; Anant, V.; Berggren, K. K.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.
Title Constriction-limited detection efficiency of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 90 Issue 10 Pages 101110 (1 to 3)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We investigate the source of the large variations in the observed detection efficiencies of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors between many nominally identical devices. Through both electrical and optical measurements, we infer that these variations arise from “constrictions:” highly localized regions of the nanowires where the effective cross-sectional area for superconducting current is reduced. These constrictions limit the bias-current density to well below its critical value over the remainder of the wire, and thus prevent the detection efficiency from reaching the high values that occur in these devices when they are biased near the critical current density.

This work is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002.
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ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1433
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Author Słysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Górska, M.; Zwiller, V.; Latta, C.; Böhi, P.; Pearlman, A.J.; Cross, A.S.; Pan, D.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Komissarov, I.; Verevkin, A.; Milostnaya, I.; Korneev, A.; Minayeva, O.; Chulkova, G.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.N.; Sobolewski, R.
Title Fibre-coupled, single photon detector based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for quantum communications Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication J. Modern Opt. Abbreviated Journal J. Modern Opt.
Volume 54 Issue 2-3 Pages 315-326
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We present a novel, two-channel, single photon receiver based on two fibre-coupled, NbN, superconducting, single photon detectors (SSPDs). The SSPDs are nanostructured superconducting meanders and are known for ultrafast and efficient detection of visible-to-infrared photons. Coupling between the NbN detector and optical fibre was achieved using a micromechanical photoresist ring placed directly over the SSPD, holding the fibre in place. With this arrangement, we obtained coupling efficiencies up to ∼30%. Our experimental results showed that the best receiver had a near-infrared system quantum efficiency of 0.33% at 4.2 K. The quantum efficiency increased exponentially with the photon energy increase, reaching a few percent level for visible-light photons. The photoresponse pulses of our devices were limited by the meander high kinetic inductance and had the rise and fall times of approximately 250 ps and 5 ns, respectively. The receiver's timing jitter was in the 37 to 58 ps range, approximately 2 to 3 times larger than in our older free-space-coupled SSPDs. We stipulate that this timing jitter is in part due to optical fibre properties. Besides quantum communications, the two-detector arrangement should also find applications in quantum correlation experiments.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0950-0340 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1434
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Author Baselmans, J. J. A.; Baryshev, A.; Reker, S. F.; Hajenius, M.; Gao, J. R.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title Influence of the direct response on the heterodyne sensitivity of hot electron bolometer mixers Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication J. Appl. Phys. Abbreviated Journal J. Appl. Phys.
Volume 100 Issue 8 Pages 084510 (1 to 7)
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract We present a detailed experimental study of the direct detection effect in a small volume (0.15μm×1μm×3.5nm) quasioptical NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometer mixer at 673GHz. We find that the small signal noise temperature, relevant for an astronomical observation, is 20% lower than the noise temperature obtained using 300 and 77K calibration loads. In a separate set of experiments we show that the direct detection effect is caused by a combination of bias current reduction when switching from the 77 to the 300K

load in combination with the bias current dependence of the receiver gain. The bias current dependence of the receiver gain is shown to be mainly caused by the current dependence of the mixer gain.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0021-8979 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1442
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Author Kooi, J. W.; Baselmans, J. J. A.; Baryshev, A.; Schieder, R.; Hajenius, M.; Gao, J.R.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title Stability of heterodyne terahertz receivers Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication J. Appl. Phys. Abbreviated Journal J. Appl. Phys.
Volume 100 Issue 6 Pages 064904 (1 to 9)
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract In this paper we discuss the stability of heterodyne terahertz receivers based on small volume NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometers (HEBs). The stability of these receivers can be broken down in two parts: the intrinsic stability of the HEB mixer and the stability of the local oscillator (LO) signal injection scheme. Measurements show that the HEB mixer stability is limited by gain fluctuations with a 1∕f spectral distribution. In a 60MHz noise bandwidth this results in an Allan variance stability time of ∼0.3s. Measurement of the spectroscopic Allan variance between two intermediate frequency (IF) channels results in a much longer Allan variance stability time, i.e., 3s between a 2.5 and a 4.7GHz channel, and even longer for more closely spaced channels. This implies that the HEB mixer 1∕f noise is strongly correlated across the IF band and that the correlation gets stronger the closer the IF channels are spaced. In the second part of the paper we discuss atmospheric and mechanical system stability requirements on the LO-mixer cavity path length. We calculate the mixer output noise fluctuations as a result of small perturbations of the LO-mixer standing wave, and find very stringent mechanical and atmospheric tolerance requirements for receivers operating at terahertz frequencies.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0021-8979 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1444
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Author Jiang, Ling; Miao, Wei; Zhang, Wen; Li, Ning; Lin, Zhen Hui; Yao, Qi Jun; Shi, Sheng-Cai; Svechnikov, S. I.; Vakhtomin, Y. B.; Antipov, S. V.; Voronov, B. M.; Kaurova, N. S.; Gol'tsman, G. N.
Title Characterization of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Techn. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Techn.
Volume 54 Issue 7 Pages 2944-2948
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract In this paper, the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer, cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K refrigerator, is thoroughly investigated at 300, 500, and 850 GHz. The lowest receiver noise temperatures measured at the respective three frequencies are 1400, 900, and 1350 K, which can go down to 659, 413, and 529 K, respectively, after correcting the loss and associated noise contribution of the quasi-optical system before the measured superconducting HEB mixer. The stability of the quasi-optical superconducting HEB mixer is also investigated here. The Allan variance time measured with a local oscillator pumping at 500 GHz and an IF bandwidth of 110 MHz is 1.5 s at the dc-bias voltage exhibiting the lowest noise temperature and increases to 2.5 s at a dc bias twice that voltage.
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Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0018-9480 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1448
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Author Słysz, W.; Węgrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Górska, M.; Zwiller, V.; Latta, C.; Bohi, P.; Milostnaya, I.; Minaeva, O.; Antipov, A.; Okunev, O.; Korneev, A.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Gol’tsman, G.; Pearlman, A.; Cross, A.; Komissarov, I.; Verevkin, A.; Sobolewski, R.
Title Fiber-coupled single-photon detectors based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for practical quantum cryptography and photon-correlation studies Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 88 Issue 26 Pages 261113 (1 to 3)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We have fabricated and tested a two-channel single-photon detector system based on two fiber-coupled superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). Our best device reached the system quantum efficiency of 0.3% in the 1540-nm telecommunication wavelength with a fiber-to-detector coupling factor of about 30%. The photoresponse consisted of 2.5-ns-wide voltage pulses with a rise time of 250ps and timing jitter below 40ps. The overall system response time, measured as a second-order, photon cross-correlation function, was below 400ps. Our SSPDs operate at 4.2K inside a liquid-helium Dewar, but their optical fiber inputs and electrical outputs are at room temperature. Our two-channel detector system should find applications in practical quantum cryptography and in antibunching-type quantum correlation measurements.

The authors would like to thank Dr. Marc Currie for his assistance in early time-resolved photoresponse measurements and Professor Atac Imamoglu for his support. This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science under Project No. 3 T11B 052 26 (Warsaw), RFBR 03-02-17697 and INTAS 03-51-4145 grants (Moscow), CRDF Grant No. RE2-2531-MO-03 (Moscow), RE2-2529-MO-03 (Moscow and Rochester), and US AFOSR FA9550-04-1-0123 (Rochester). Additional funding was provided by the grants from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and BBN Technologies Corp.
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ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1449
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Author Kerman, A. J.; Dauler, E. A.; Keicher, W. E.; Yang, J. K. W.; Berggren, K. K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Voronov, B.
Title Kinetic-inductance-limited reset time of superconducting nanowire photon counters Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 88 Issue 11 Pages 111116 (1 to 3)
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We investigate the recovery of superconducting NbN-nanowire photon counters after detection of an optical pulse at a wavelength of 1550nm, and present a model that quantitatively accounts for our observations. The reset time is found to be limited by the large kinetic inductance of these nanowires, which forces a tradeoff between counting rate and either detection efficiency or active area. Devices of usable size and high detection efficiency are found to have reset times orders of magnitude longer than their intrinsic photoresponse time.

The authors acknowledge D. Oates and W. Oliver (MIT Lincoln Laboratory), S.W. Nam, A. Miller, and R. Hadfield (NIST) and R. Sobolewski, A. Pearlman, and A. Verevkin (University of Rochester) for helpful discussions and technical assistance. This work made use of MIT’s shared scanning-electron-beam-lithography facility in the Research Laboratory of Electronics. This work is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Air Force Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, recommendations and conclusions are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.
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ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
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Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1453
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