Investigation of Superconductive Detectors and Materials for Astronomical Receivers

基于铌的超导接收器提供毫米和亚毫米波长的最高灵敏度。开发高质量、低噪声的超导接收机混频器至关重要。一般的射电天文学界和阿塔卡马大型毫米波阵列（ALMA）直接受益于这项工作。工作分为2部分：SIS混频器和HEB混频器。对于SIS混频器，将分四个阶段进行研究：1)将使用新的沉积系统进一步开发用于图像抑制混频器的原型50欧姆/平方（4.2开尔文）NbOx电阻技术。2)控制结特定电容，介电常数和穿透深度的波上模块3)更高频率的更小结区域4)晶圆后处理包括整片晶圆减薄（2mil）。HEB（超导热电子测热计）混合器的研究将继续研究：高带宽性能、聚焦离子束在新型扩散冷却热电子测热混合器制造中的应用以及其他创新的铌混合器制造工艺。

LichtenbergerAST 9987330Niobium based superconducting receivers offer the highest sensitivity for millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. The development of high quality, low noise mixer elements for these superconducting receivers is essential. The general radio astronomy community and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) directly benefit from this work.The work is divided into 2 parts: SIS mixers and HEB mixers.For the SIS mixers will be investigated in 4 stages: 1) a prototype 50ohm/square (4.2 degrees Kelvin) NbOx resister technology for image rejection mixers will be further developed using a new deposition system. 2) on-waver modules to control junction specific capacitance, dielectric constant and penetration depth 3) smaller junction areas for higher frequencies, 4) post wafer processing including whole wafer thinning (2mil).HEB (super conducting hot electron bolometer) mixers research will be continued investigating: high bandwidth performance, applications of focussed ion beam to the fabrication of novel diffusion cooled hot electron bolometric mixers and other innovative Nb mixer fabrication processes.