Superconductive hot-electron mixers for terahertz heterodyne receiver applications

William R. McGrath; Anders J. Skalare; Boris S. Karasik; Michael C. Gaidis; Bruce Bumble; Henry G. LeDuc; P. J. Burke; R. Schoelkopf; D. E. Prober

doi:10.1117/12.317341

31 July 1998 Superconductive hot-electron mixers for terahertz heterodyne receiver applications

William R. McGrath, Anders J. Skalare, Boris S. Karasik, Michael C. Gaidis, Bruce Bumble, Henry G. LeDuc, P. J. Burke, R. Schoelkopf, D. E. Prober

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3357, Advanced Technology MMW, Radio, and Terahertz Telescopes; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317341
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We report on the development of quasioptical Nb hot-electron bolometer mixers for heterodyne receivers operating at 1 THz 3 THz. The devices have submicron in-plane sizes, thus exploiting diffusion as the electron cooling mechanism. Quasioptical mixer circuits have been developed with planar double-dipole or twin-slot antennas. The measured (DSB) receiver noise temperatures are 1670 K at 1.1 THz, with an estimated mixer noise temperature of approximately equals 1060 K, and 2750 K at 2.5 THz, with an estimated mixer noise temperature of approximately equals 900 K. The IF bandwidth is found to scale as the length-squared, and bandwidths as high as 8 GHz have been measured. These results demonstrate the low-noise, broadband operation of the diffusion-cooled bolometer mixer over a wide range of far-infrared wavelengths.

Citation Download Citation

William R. McGrath, Anders J. Skalare, Boris S. Karasik, Michael C. Gaidis, Bruce Bumble, Henry G. LeDuc, P. J. Burke, R. Schoelkopf, and D. E. Prober "Superconductive hot-electron mixers for terahertz heterodyne receiver applications", Proc. SPIE 3357, Advanced Technology MMW, Radio, and Terahertz Telescopes, (31 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317341

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available