Title :
NbN hot electron bolometric mixers-a new technology for low noise THz receivers
Author :
Gerecht, E. ; Musante, C.F. ; Zhuang, Y. ; Yngvesson, K.S. ; Goyette, T. ; Dickinson, J. ; Waldman, J. ; Yagoubov, P.A. ; Gol´tsman, G.N. ; Voronov, B.M. ; Gershenzon, E.M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA, USA
Abstract :
New advances in Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixers have resulted in record low receiver noise temperatures at THz frequencies recently. We have developed quasi-optically coupled NbN HEB mixers and measured noise temperatures up to 1.56 THz, as described in this paper. We project the anticipated future performance of such receivers to have even lower noise temperature and LO power requirement as well as wider gain and noise bandwidths. We introduce a proposal for integrated focal plane arrays of HEB mixers which will further increase the detection speed of THz systems.
Keywords :
bolometers; focal planes; hot carriers; niobium compounds; submillimetre wave mixers; submillimetre wave receivers; superconducting device noise; superconducting microwave devices; superconducting mixers; 1.56 THz; NbN; NbN hot electron bolometric mixer; focal plane array; noise temperature; quasi-optical coupling; terahertz receiver; Astronomy; Electrons; Frequency; Microwave technology; Physics; Plasma temperature; Schottky diodes; Space technology; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting films;
Conference_Titel :
Microwave Symposium Digest, 1999 IEEE MTT-S International
Conference_Location :
Anaheim, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5135-5
DOI :
10.1109/MWSYM.1999.780319
