3.1-THz Heterodyne Receiver Using an NbTiN Hot-Electron Bolometer Mixer and a Quantum Cascade Laser

Author

Shiba, Shoichi ; Irimajiri, Yoshihisa ; Yamakura, Tetsuya ; Maezawa, Hiroyuki ; Sekine, Norihiko ; Hosako, Iwao ; Yamamoto, Satoshi

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Univ. of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Volume

2

Issue

1

fYear

2012

Firstpage

22

Lastpage

28

Abstract

We have developed the 3.1-THz heterodyne receiver using an NbTiN Hot-Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixer and a THz Quantum Cascade Laser (THz-QCL) as a local oscillator. A quasi optical twin-slot antenna is adopted for the coupling of the RF signal with the mixer. The receiver noise temperature is measured to be 5600 K in DSB. When the optical loss is corrected, it is as low as 2100 K. This result demonstrates that the NbTiN HEB mixer works with the equivalent level of performance at 3.1 THz in comparison with the NbN HEB mixers usually employed in this frequency region.

Keywords

bolometers; heterodyne detection; quantum cascade lasers; slot antennas; submillimetre wave mixers; submillimetre wave receivers; HEB mixer; NbTiN hot electron bolometer mixer; RF signal-mixer coupling; THz-QCL local oscillator; frequency 3.1 THz; heterodyne receiver; optical loss; quantum cascade laser; quasioptical twin slot antenna; receiver noise temperature; Bolometers; Current measurement; Measurement by laser beam; Mixers; Quantum cascade lasers; Receivers; Temperature measurement; NbTiN; superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB); terahertz quantum cascade laser (THz-QCL);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Terahertz Science and Technology, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

2156-342X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TTHZ.2011.2177704

Filename

6095645