Hot electron effect in terahertz hybrid devices

Author

Leone, B. ; Gao, J.R. ; Klapwijk, T.M. ; Jackson, B.D. ; Laauwen, W.M. ; de Lange, G.

Author_Institution

Mater. Sci. Center, Groningen Univ., Netherlands

Volume

11

Issue

1

fYear

2001

fDate

3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

649

Lastpage

652

Abstract

We analyse both the direct current and submillimeter pumped current-voltage characteristics of a hybrid superconductor-insulator-superconductor terahertz mixer consisting of a Nb tunnel junction integrated with NbTiN tuning striplines. We find that the presence of the Nb/NbTiN interface gives rise to a hot electron effect. The assumption of an equilibrium electron temperature, as distinct from the phonon temperature, allows a complete understanding of the processes involved. The impact of the hot electron effect on superconducting terahertz detectors is discussed

Keywords

hot carriers; niobium; niobium compounds; submillimetre wave detectors; submillimetre wave mixers; superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers; titanium compounds; DC current-voltage characteristics; Nb tunnel junction; Nb-NbTiN; Nb/NbTiN interface; NbTiN tuning stripline; equilibrium electron temperature; hot electron effect; hybrid device; submillimeter pumping; superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer; terahertz detector; Current-voltage characteristics; Detectors; Electrons; Hybrid junctions; Josephson junctions; Niobium; Phonons; Stripline; Superconducting devices; Temperature;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.919428

Filename

919428