NbN hot electron bolometric mixers-a new technology for low-noise THz receivers

Author

Gerecht, E. ; Zhuang, Yueting ; Yngvesson, K.S. ; Gol´tsman, G.N. ; Voronov, Boris M. ; Gershenzon, E.M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA

Volume

47

Issue

12

fYear

1999

fDate

12/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2519

Lastpage

2527

Abstract

New advances in hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have recently resulted in record-low receiver noise temperatures at terahertz frequencies. We have developed quasi-optically coupled NbN HEB mixers and measured noise temperatures up to 2.24 THz, as described in this paper. We project the anticipated future performance of such receivers to have even lower noise temperature and local-oscillator power requirement as well as wider gain and noise bandwidths. We introduce a proposal for integrated focal plane arrays of HEB mixers that will further increase the detection speed of terahertz systems

Keywords

bolometers; focal planes; hot carriers; niobium compounds; submillimetre wave mixers; submillimetre wave receivers; superconducting device noise; superconducting mixers; 620 GHz to 2.24 THz; NbN; NbN hot electron bolometric mixers; astronomical observing platforms; gain; integrated focal plane arrays; local-oscillator power requirement; low-noise THz receivers; noise bandwidth; quasi-optically coupled NbN HEB mixers; receiver noise temperature; terahertz frequencies; terahertz system detection speed; Bolometers; Electrons; Frequency; Hafnium; Plasma temperature; Schottky diodes; Space technology; Submillimeter wave technology; Superconducting device noise; Temperature distribution;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.809001

Filename

809001