Title :
A Low Noise 2.7 THz Waveguide-Based Superconducting Mixer
Author :
Boussaha, Faouzi M. ; Kawamura, Jonathan H. ; Stern, Jeffery A. ; Skalare, Anders ; White, Victor
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., NASA, Pasadena, CA, USA
fDate :
5/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We report on a low noise waveguide-based heterodyne mixer utilizing a superconductiang NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) operating near 2.7 THz. The mixer is an NbN nano-bridge integrated with a gold bowtie planar antenna on an ultra-thin silicon substrate of ~ 2-3 μm thickness. To produce the waveguide embedding circuit for use at such a high frequency, we adopted a novel approach combining UV-lithography and micro-plating techniques. The mixer response agreed precisely with model predictions, and we measured a minimum uncorrected DSB receiver noise temperature of 965 K at an LO frequency of 2.74 THz.
Keywords :
bolometers; hot carriers; niobium compounds; planar antennas; superconducting microbridges; superconducting mixers; ultraviolet lithography; DSB receiver noise temperature; LO frequency; NbN; Si; UV lithography; frequency 2.7 THz; gold bowtie planar antenna; low noise heterodyne mixer; microplating techniques; mixer response; model predictions; nanobridge; size 2 mum to 3 mum; superconductiang NbN hot electron bolometer; temperature 965 K; ultrathin silicon substrate; waveguide embedding circuit; waveguide-based superconducting mixer; Gold; Mixers; Noise; Optical waveguides; Receivers; Silicon; Temperature measurement; Terahertz frequency; heterodyne detection; hot electron bolometer; waveguide;
Journal_Title :
Terahertz Science and Technology, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TTHZ.2012.2189393
