Ultrasensitive Terahertz Hot-Electron Mixers

超灵敏太赫兹热电子混合器

• 批准号: 9618705
• 负责人: Daniel Prober
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: Yale University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-03-01 至 2000-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9618705&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ultrasensitive; Terahertz; Hot; Electron; Mixers

Abstract PROBER, D. E. AST-9618705 Funds will be used to develop superconductive hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers for heterodyne receiver application in the wavelength range from 1 mm to 0.1 mm (300 GHz - 3 THz). The bolometer mixer consists of a submicron strip of superconductor biased in the middle of its resistive transition. HEB mixers have recently shown broad IF bandwidths ( 6 GHz) and low noise along with extremely low local oscillator power requirements (TR = 650 K DSB and PLO = 15 nW at 530 GHz). Rapid thermal response and hence large IF bandwidth is achieved by out-diffusion of hot electrons. This mixer has no energy gap limitation (as for example is found in superconductive SIS mixers) and is expected to operate up to several 10's of THz. Device material, geometry, transition temperature, transition width, and sheet resistance will be investigated to optimize mixer performance for applications directly related to current and upcoming observational programs and missions. Nb bridges deposited with improved conditions, and Al and Ti bridges with very low transition temperatures will be tested to produce receivers with enhanced sensitivity.

摘要 PROBER, D. E. AST-9618705 资金将用于开发超导热电子测辐射热计 (HEB) 混频器，用于 1 mm 至 0.1 mm (300 GHz - 3 THz) 波长范围内的外差接收器应用。 测辐射热计混合器由亚微米超导体带组成，该超导体带在其电阻转变的中间偏置。 HEB 混频器最近表现出宽的 IF 带宽 (6 GHz) 和低噪声，以及极低的本地振荡器功率要求（530 GHz 时 TR = 650 K DSB 和 PLO = 15 nW）。 通过热电子的外扩散可实现快速热响应，从而实现大中频带宽。 该混频器没有能隙限制（例如超导 SIS 混频器中的情况），预计运行频率可达数十太赫兹。 将研究设备材料、几何形状、转变温度、转变宽度和薄层电阻，以优化与当前和即将到来的观测计划和任务直接相关的应用的混合器性能。将测试以改进条件沉积的铌桥以及具有极低转变温度的铝和钛桥，以生产具有增强灵敏度的接收器。