Semenov, A. D., Hübers, H. - W., Richter, H., Birk, M., Krocka, M., Mair, U., et al. (2003). Superconducting hot-electron bolometer mixer for terahertz heterodyne receivers. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 168–171.
Abstract: We present recent results showing the development of superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer for German receiver for astronomy at terahertz frequencies and terahertz limb sounder. The mixer is incorporated into a planar feed antenna, which has either logarithmic spiral or double-slot configuration, and backed on a silicon lens. The hybrid antenna had almost frequency independent and symmetric radiation pattern slightly broader than expected for a diffraction limited antenna. At 2.5 THz the best 2200 K double side-band receiver noise temperature was achieved across a 1 GHz intermediate frequency bandwidth centred at 1.5 GHz. For this operation regime, a receiver conversion efficiency of -17 dB was directly measured and the loss budget was evaluated. The mixer response was linear at load temperatures smaller than 400 K. Implementation of the MgO buffer layer on Si resulted in an increased 5.2 GHz gain bandwidth. The receiver was tested in the laboratory environment by measuring a methanol emission line at 2.5 THz.
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Semenov, A., Il'yin, K., Siegel, M., Smirnov, A., Pavlov, S., Richter, H., et al. (2006). Intermediate frequency bandwidth of a hot-electron mixer: Comparision with bolometric models. In Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 73–76). Paris, France.
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Engel, A., Aeschbacher, A., Inderbitzin, K., Schilling, A., Il'in, K., Hofherr, M., et al. (2011). Tantalum nitride superconducting single-photon detectors with low cut-off energy. arXiv, , 9.
Abstract: Materials with a small superconducting energy gap favor a high detection efficiency of low-energy photons in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. We developed a TaN detector with smaller gap and lower density of states at the Fermi energy than in comparable NbN devices, while other relevant parameters remain essentially unchanged. This results in a reduction of the minimum photon energy required for direct detection to $\approx1/3$ as compared to NbN.
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Hübers, H. - W., Semenov, A., Richter, H., Smirnov, K., Gol'tsman, G., & Voronov, B. (2002). Phonon cooled far-infrared hot electron bolometer mixer. In NASA/ADS.
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.
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Semenov, A., Hübers, H. - W., Engel, A., & Gol'tsman, G. N. (2002). Background limited superconducting quantum detector for astronomy. In NASA/ADS.
Abstract: We present the concept of the superconducting quantum detector for astronomy. Response to a single absorbed photon appears due to successive formation of a normal spot and phase-slip-centers in a narrow strip carrying sub-critical supercurrent. The detector simultaneously has a moderate energy resolution and a variable cut-off wavelength depending on both the material used and operation conditions. We simulated performance of the background-limited direct detector having the 100- micrometer cut-off wavelength. Low dark count rate will allow to realize 10-21 W Hz-1/2 noise equivalent power at 4 K background radiation. The intrinsic recovery time of the counter is rather determined by diffusion of nonequilibrium electrons, thus, thermal fluctuations do not hamper energy resolution of the detector. Provided an appropriate readout technique, the resolution should be better than 1/20 at 50- micrometer wavelength. Planar layout and relatively simple technology favor integration of the detector into an array.
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