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Author Khosropanah, Pourya
Title NbN and NbTiN hot electron bolometer THz mixers Type Book Whole
Year 2003 Publication Chalmers University of Technology Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords HEB mixer, hot electron bolometer mixer, NbN, NbTiN, superconducting detector, heterodyne receiver, THz mixer, submillimeter mixer, quasioptical receiver, double slot antenna, twin slot antenna, spiral antenna, receiver noise, FTS, Fourier Transform Spectrometer
Abstract The thesis reports the development of Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixers for radio astronomy heterodyne receivers in THz frequency range. Part of this work is the fabrication of HEB devices, which are based on NbN or NbTiN superconducting thin films (â‰<a4>5 nm). They are integrated with wideband spiral or double-slot planar antennas. The mixer chips are incorporated into a quasi-optical receiver. The experimental part of this work focuses on the characterization of the receiver as a whole, and the HEB mixers as a part. Double side band receiver noise temperature and the IF bandwidth are reported for frequencies from 0.7 THz up to 2.6 THz. The spectrum of the direct response of HEB integrated with dierent antennas are measured using Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS). The effect of the bolometer size on total receiver performance and the LO power requirements is also discussed. A high-yield and reliable process for fabrication of NbN HEB mixers have been achieved. Over 100 devices with different bolometer geometry, film property and also different antennas have been fabricated and measured. The measured data enables us to discuss the impact of different parameters to the receiver overall performance.

This work has provided NbN HEB mixers to the following receivers:

TREND (Terahertz REceiver with NbN HEB Device) operating at 1.25-1.5 THz, installed in AST/RO Submillimeter Wave Telescope, Amundsen/Scott South Pole Station, in 2002-2003.

Band 6-low (1.410-1.700 THz) and 6-high (1.700-1.920 THz) of the HIFI (Heterodyne Instrument for Far Infra-red) in the Herschel Space Observatory, due to launch in 2007 by ESA (European Space Agency).

Besides, there has been continuous efforts to develop better models to explain the mixer performance more accurately. They are based on two temperature model for electrons and phonons and solving one-dimensional heat balance equations along the bolometer. The principles of these models are illustrated and the calculated results are compared with measured data.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis Ph.D. thesis
Publisher Chalmers University of Technology Place of Publication Göteborg 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 910
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Author Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm; Semenov, A.; Richter, H.; Smirnov, K.; Gol'tsman, G.; Voronov, B.
Title Phonon cooled far-infrared hot electron bolometer mixer Type Abstract
Year 2002 Publication NASA/ADS Abbreviated Journal NASA/ADS
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy need quantum-limited sensitivity. At frequencies above 1.4 THz superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) can be used to achieve this goal. We present results of the development of a quasi-optical phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer for GREAT, the German heterodyne receiver for SOFIA. Different mixers with logarithmic spiral and double slot feed antennas have been investigated with respect to their noise temperature, conversion loss, linearity and beam pattern at several frequencies between 0.7 THz and 5.2 THz. At 2.5 THz a double sideband noise temperature of 2200 K was achieved. The conversion loss was 16 dB. The response of the mixer was linear up to 400 K load temperature. This performance was verified by measuring an emission line of methanol at 2.5 THz. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for FIR heterodyne receivers.
Address Monterey, CA
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 Far-IR, Sub-mm & MM Detector Technology Workshop, 1-3 April 2002
Notes id.37 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1534
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Author Pentin, Ivan; Finkel, Matvey; Maslennikov, Sergey; Vakhtomin, Yuri; Smirnov, Konstantin; Kaurova, Nataliya; Goltsman, Gregory
Title Superconducting hot-electron-bolometer mixers for the mid-IR Type Journal Article
Year 2017 Publication Rus. J. Radio Electron. Abbreviated Journal Rus. J. Radio Electron.
Volume Issue 10 Pages (up)
Keywords IR NbN HEB mixers
Abstract The work presents the result of development of the NbN superconducting hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixer. The sensitive element of the mixer is directly coupled to mid-IR radiation, and doesn’t have planar metallic antenna. Investigations of noise characteristics of NbN HEB mixer were performed at the frequency 28.4 THz (λ = 10.6 µm) by using gas-discharge CW CO2-laser without consideration of optical and electrical losses in the heterodyne receiver. The noise temperature of NbN HEB mixer with the size of the sensitive element 10 µm × 10 µm was 2320 K (~ 1.5hν/kB) at the heterodyne frequency of 28.4 THz. The noise temperature was determined by measuring the Y-factor taking into account the term which describes fluctuations of zero-point oscillations in accordance with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem of Calle-Welton. Isothermal method was used to estimate the absorbed heterodyne radiation power which was 9 µW at the optimal operating point for the minimum noise temperature of NbN HEB mixer.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Russian Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1684-1719 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes http://jre.cplire.ru/jre/oct17/9/abstract.html (Russian) Гетеродинный приемник со сверхпроводниковым смесителем на эффекте электронного разогрева для среднего инфракрасного диапазона Approved no
Call Number Serial 1747
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Author Hübers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.; Richter, H.; Birk, Manfred; Krocka, Michael; Mair, Ulrich; Smirnov, K.; Gol'tsman, G.; Voronov, B.
Title Terahertz heterodyne receiver with a hot-electron bolometer mixer Type Conference Article
Year 2002 Publication Proc. Far-IR, Sub-mm, and mm Detector Technology Workshop Abbreviated Journal Proc. Far-IR, Sub-mm, and mm Detector Technology Workshop
Volume Issue Pages (up)
Keywords NbN HEB mixers
Abstract During the past decade major advances have been made regarding low noise mixers for terahertz (THz) heterodyne receivers. State of the art hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers have noise temperatures close to the quantum limit and require less than a µW power from the local oscillator (LO). The technology is now at a point where the performance of a practical receiver employing such mixer, rather than the figures of merit of the mixer itself, are of major concern. We have incorporated a phonon-cooled NbN HEB mixer in a 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver and investigated the performance of the receiver. This yields important information for the development of heterodyne receivers such as GREAT (German receiver for astronomy at THz frequencies aboard SOFIA)[1] and TELIS (Terahertz limb sounder), a balloon borne heterodyne receiver for atmospheric research [2]. Both are currently under development at DLR.
Address Monterey, CA, USA
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor Wold, J.; Davidson, J.
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes 4 pages; Unconfirmed but cited in https://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/1622/1/bedorf.pdf; There is a Program of the Workshop: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/7411055/far-ir-submm-mm-detector-technology-workshop-sofia-usra (there is no title of this article in the Program); There is also identical publication in Proc. ISSTT (Serial: 332, “A broadband terahertz heterodyne receiver with an NbN HEB mixer”). Approved no
Call Number Serial 1829
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Author Shurakov, Alexander; Tong, Edward; Blundell, Raymond; Gol'tsman, Gregory
Title Microwave stabilization of HEB mixer by a microchip controller Type Conference Article
Year 2012 Publication IEEE MTT-S international microwave symposium digest Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages (up) 1-3
Keywords HEB mixer stability, microwave injection, Allan variance, Allan time
Abstract The stability of a Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixer can be improved by the use of microwave injection. In this article we report a refinement of this approach. We introduce a microchip controller to facilitate the implementation of the stabilization scheme, and demonstrate that the feedback loop effectively suppresses drifts in the HEB bias current, leading to an improvement in the receiver stability. The measured Allan time of the mixer's IF output power is increased to > 10 s.
Address Montreal, QC, Canada
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 857
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