Cherednichenko, S., Drakinskiy, V., Baubert, J., Lecomte, B., Dauplay, F., Krieg, J. - M., et al. (2007). 2.5 THz multipixel heterodyne receiver based on NbN HEB mixers. In Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (112).
Abstract: A 16 pixel heterodyne receiver for 2.5 THz has been developed based on NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers. The receiver uses a quasioptical RF coupling approach where HEB mixers are integrated into double dipole antennas on 1.5μm thick Si3N4 / SiO2 membranes. Spherical mirrors (one per pixel) and backshort distance from the antenna have been used to design the output mixer beam profile. The camera design allows all 16 pixel IF readout in parallel. Measurements of the mixers sensitivity and the input RF band are presented, and compared against calculations.
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Semenov, A., Richter, H., Smirnov, A., Günther, B., Hübers, H. - W., Il’in, K., et al. (2007). Development of HEB mixers for GREAT and for security screening. In Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (184).
Abstract: We report the study on the quasioptical coupling efficiency and the gain bandwidth of NbN hot-electron bolometer mixers developed for the 4.7 THz channel of the German receiver for Astronomy at THz-frequencies (GREAT) and for security screening at subterahertz frequencies. Radiation coupling efficiency and directive properties of integrated lens antennas with log-spiral, log-periodic and double-slot planar feeds coupled to a hot-electron bolometer were experimentally studied at frequencies from 1 THz to 6 THz and compared with simulations based on the method of moments and the physical-optics ray tracing. For all studied antennas the modeled spectral dependence of the coupling efficiency fits to the experimental data obtained with both Fourier transform spectroscopy and noise temperature measurements only if the complex impedance of the bolometer is explicitly taken into account. Our experimental data did not indicate any noticeable contribution of the quantum noise to the system noise temperature. The experimentally observed deviation of the beam pattern from the model prediction increases with frequency and is most likely due to a non- ideality of the presently used lenses. Study of the intermediate frequency mixer gain at local oscillator (LO) frequencies between 2.5 THz and 0.3 THz showed an increase of the gain bandwidth at low LO frequencies that was understood as the contribution of the direct interaction of magnetic vortices with the radiation field. We have found that the non- homogeneous hot-spot model more adequately describes variation of the intermediate frequency bandwidth with the applied local oscillator power than any of uniform mixer models. The state-of-the-day performance of the GREAT 4.7-THz channel and the 0.8-THz security scanner will be presented.
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Gol’tsman, G. N. (2007). The “Millimetron” project, a future space telescope mission. In Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (255).
Abstract: The goal of the Millimetron project is to develop a space observatory operating in the millimeter, sub-millimeter and infrared wavelength ranges using a 12-m actively cooled telescope in a single-dish mode and as an interferometer with the space-ground and space-space baselines (the later after the launch of the second identical space telescope). The Millimetron’s main reflector and other optics will be cooled down to 4K thus enabling astronomical observations with super high sensitivity in MM and subMM (down to nanoJansky level). Heterodyne observations in an interferometer mode at frequencies 0.1-1 THz will provide super high angular resolution. The main instruments, planned to be installed are wide-range imaging arrays, radiometers with spectrometers and polarimeters, VLBI heterodyne receivers, and Mikelson type interferometer devices. Wide-range MM and subMM imaging arrays and spectrometers will be based on a superconducting hot electron direct detectors with Andreev mirrors operating at 0.1 K. Such detectors are the best candidates to reach the noise equivalent power level of 10 -19 -10 -20 W/√Hz. Heterodyne receivers will be both SIS based superconducting integrated receiver with flux-flow oscillator as LO (0.1-0.9 THz range) and HEB based receivers using multiplied Gunn oscillator as LO for 1-2 THz range and quantum cascade lasers as LO for 2-5 THz range. For observations in middle IR region there will be installed large arrays of superconducting single photon detectors, providing imaging with very high dynamic range and ultimate sensitivity.
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Baselmans, J. J. A., Baryshev, A., Hajenius, M., Gao, J. R., Klapwijk, T. M., Voronov, B., et al. (2006). Influence of the direct response on the heterodyne sensitivity of hot electron bolometer mixers. In Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (81).
Abstract: We present a detailed experimental study of the direct detection effect in a small volume (0.15pm x lpm) NbN hot electron bolometer mixer. It is a quasioptical mixer with a twin slot antenna designed for 700 GHz and the measurement was done at a LO frequency of 670 GHz. The direct detection effect is characterized by a change in the mixer bias current when switching broadband radiation from a 300 K hot load to a 77 K cold load in a standard Y factor measurement. The result is, depending on the receiver under study, an increase or decrease in the receiver noise temperature. We find that the small signal noise temperature, which is the noise temperature that would be observed without the presence of the direct detection effect, and thus the one that is relevant for an astronomical observation, is 20% lower than the noise temperature obtained using 300 K and 77 K calibration loads. Thus, in our case the direct detection effect reduces the mixer sensitivity. These results are in good agreement with previous measurement at THz frequencies [1]. Other experiments report an increase in mixer sensitivity [2]. To analyze this discrepancy we have designed a separate set of experiments to find out the physical origin of the direct detection effect. Possible candidates are the bias current dependence of the mixer gain and the bias current dependence of the IF match. We measured directly the change in mixer IF match and receiver gain due to the direct detection effect. From these measurements we conclude that the direct detection effect is caused by a combination of bias current reduction when switching form the 77 K to the 300 K 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. We also find that an increase in receiver sensitivity due to the direct detection effect is only possible if the noise temperature change due to the direct detection is dominated by the mixer-amplifier IF match. [1] J.J.A. Baselmans, A. Baryshev, S.F. Reker, M. Hajenius, J.R. Gao, T.M. Klapwijk, Yu.Vachtomin, S. Maslennikov, S. Antipov, B. Voronov, and G. Gol'tsman., Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 163503 (2005). [2] S. Svechnokov, A. Verevkin, B. Voronov, E. Menschikov. E. Gershenzon, G. Gol'tsman, 9th Int. Symp. On Space THz. Techn., 45, (1999).
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Goltsman, G. N. (2006). Submillimeter superconducting receivers for astronomy, atmospheric studies and other applications. In 31nd IRMW / 14th ICTE (177).
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