Frontend for a 2.5-THz heterodyne spectrometer without liquid cryogen

Author

Richter, H. ; Semenov, A.D. ; Pavlov, S.G. ; Mahler, L. ; Tredicucci, A. ; Beere, H.E. ; Ritchie, D.A. ; Il´in, K. ; Siegel, M. ; Hübers, H. -W

Author_Institution

Inst. of Planetary Res., German Aerosp. Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany

fYear

2011

fDate

2-7 Oct. 2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

2

Abstract

As part of a study for a second generation heterodyne spectrometer on SOFIA we are developing a 2.5-THz frontend which is implemented in a pulse-tube cooler. It consists of a quantum-cascade laser as local oscillator and a phonon-cooled NbN hot electron bolometric mixer. Frequency stabilization to below 300 kHz full width at half maximum is achieved by locking to a molecular absorption line. We will present the design and performance of the frontend and discuss the prospects for an application on board of SOFIA.

Keywords

astronomical spectra; astronomical techniques; bolometers; cooling; laser frequency stability; oscillators; quantum cascade lasers; submillimetre wave spectroscopy; terahertz spectroscopy; NbN; SOFIA; frequency 2.5 THz; frequency stabilization; full width at half maximum; heterodyne spectrometer; local oscillator; molecular absorption line; phonon cooled hot electron bolometric mixer; pulse tube cooler; quantum cascade laser; Absorption; Cooling; Laser beams; Local oscillators; Mixers; Quantum cascade lasers; Receivers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), 2011 36th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Houston, TX

ISSN

2162-2027

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0510-6

Electronic_ISBN

2162-2027

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/irmmw-THz.2011.6104760

Filename

6104760