Investigation of Superconductive Detectors and Materials for Astronomical Receivers

LichtenbergerAST 9987330铌基超导接收器为毫米和亚毫米波长提供最高灵敏度。 因此，研制高质量、低噪声的超导接收机混频器元件是十分必要的。 这项工作将分为SIS混频器和HEB混频器两个部分，SIS混频器将分4个阶段进行研究：1）将采用新的沉积系统进一步开发用于镜像抑制混频器的50欧姆/平方（4.2开氏度）NbOx电阻原型技术。 2)用于控制结比电容、介电常数和穿透深度的晶片上模块3）更小的结面积用于更高的频率，4）后晶片处理包括整个晶片减薄（2 mil）。（超导热电子测辐射热计）混频器的研究将继续调查：高带宽性能，聚焦离子束在新型扩散冷却热电子测辐射热混频器和其他创新铌混频器制造工艺中的应用。

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.