The bias II feedback system: Understanding and improving stability in NbN HEB Terahertz receivers

Author

Zannoni, Ric ; Yngvesson, K. Sigfrid

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

fYear

2008

fDate

15-19 Sept. 2008

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

2

Abstract

Terahertz NbN heterodyne hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer receivers currently provide the lowest receiver noise temperatures from about 1.2 THz to 5 THz. However, it has been well documented that these receivers are less stable, as quantified by the Allan variance, than other THz receivers (SIS and Schottky barrier diode mixers). In this paper we directly address the intermediate frequency (IF) stability of (HEB) receivers by designing and implementing a feedback system to stabilize the bias of the HEB device. We report a continuum Allan time of at least 20 seconds for a THz NbN HEB receiver.

Keywords

bolometers; circuit feedback; hot carriers; millimetre wave receivers; niobium compounds; noise; submillimetre wave receivers; Allan variance; NbN; Schottky barrier diode mixers; bias II feedback system; hot electron bolometer terahertz receivers; intermediate frequency stability; receiver noise temperatures; Finite impulse response filter; Gas lasers; Laser feedback; Optical beams; Optical feedback; Optical pumping; Optical receivers; Power lasers; Pump lasers; Stability;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves, 2008. IRMMW-THz 2008. 33rd International Conference on

Conference_Location

Pasadena, CA

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-2119-0

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-2120-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICIMW.2008.4665750

Filename

4665750