Improved performance of a superconductive optical detector with planar antennas

Author

Leung, M. ; Wire, M. ; Heflinger, L. ; Pham, T. ; Eaton, L. ; Rutledge, D.

Author_Institution

TRW Space & Technol. Group, Redondo Park, CA, USA

Volume

3

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

3/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2163

Lastpage

2166

Abstract

A significant improvement in performance of an ultrathin-film NbN superconductive infrared detector was demonstrated by using a planar antenna concept. The output signal voltage is increased through improved optical coupling and the detector noise is decreased by reducing the total area of the NbN detector element. An enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio by 32 dB was observed when comparing antenna-coupled detectors to area detectors (e.g., meandering lines). In addition, the authors observed a polarization selectivity of about 13 dB to linearly polarized light, which can provide additional discrimination. The primary noise mechanism in these films is confirmed to be voltage shot noise due to fluctuations in the motion of flux quanta in the film. This is a precise dual to current shot noise.<>

Keywords

electron device noise; infrared detectors; infrared imaging; microwave antennas; niobium compounds; random noise; superconducting junction devices; type II superconductors; NbN superconductive infrared detector; detector noise; imaging arrays; linearly polarized light; output signal voltage; performance; planar antennas; polarization selectivity; signal-to-noise ratio; superconductive optical detector; ultrathin-film; voltage shot noise; Infrared detectors; Noise reduction; Optical coupling; Optical detectors; Optical noise; Optical polarization; Planar arrays; Superconducting device noise; Superconductivity; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.233931

Filename

233931