PT Journal
AU Semenov, AD
   Hübers, H
   Richter, H
   Birk, M
   Krocka, M
   Mair, U
   Smirnov, K
   Gol'tsman, GN
   Voronov, BM
TI 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver with NbN hot-electron-bolometer mixer
SO Phys. C: Supercond.
JI Phys. C: Supercond.
PY 2002
BP 448
EP 453
VL 372-376
DI 10.1016/S0921-4534(02)00720-7
DE NbN HEB mixers; applications
AB We describe a 2.5 THz heterodyne receiver for applications in astronomy and atmospheric research. The receiver employs a superconducting NbN phonon-cooled hot-electron-bolometer mixer and an optically pumped far-infrared gas laser as local oscillator. 2200 K double sideband mixer noise temperature was measured at 2.5 THz across a 1 GHz intermediate frequency bandwidth centred at 1.5 GHz. The total conversion losses were 17 dB. The mixer response was linear at load temperatures smaller than 400 K. The receiver was tested in the laboratory environment by measuring the methanol line in emission. Observed pressure broadening confirms the true heterodyne detection regime of the mixer.
ER