1. Low noise NbN hot electron bolometer mixer at 4.3 THz
- Author
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Pourya Khosropanah, T. M. Klapwijk, W. M. Laauwen, J. R. Gao, and M. Hajenius
- Subjects
Physics ,Spiral antenna ,fluctuations in superconductors ,Noise temperature ,HETERODYNE RECEIVER ,Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) ,Condensed matter physics ,Sideband ,business.industry ,Local oscillator ,Quantum noise ,Superheterodyne receiver ,Bolometer ,quantum noise ,niobium compounds ,law.invention ,superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers ,law ,Optoelectronics ,hot carriers ,business ,bolometers ,Beam splitter - Abstract
We have studied the sensitivity of a superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer mixer integrated with a spiral antenna at 4.3 THz. Using hot/cold blackbody loads and a beam splitter all in vacuum, we measured a double sideband receiver noise temperature of 1300 K at the optimum local oscillator (LO) power of 330 nW, which is about 12 times the quantum noise (h nu/2k(B)). Our result indicates that there is no sign of degradation of the mixing process at the superterahertz frequencies. Moreover, a measurement method is introduced which allows us for an accurate determination of the sensitivity despite LO power fluctuations. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.
- Published
- 2007