Bolometric receivers for terahertz applications

Harald F. Merkel; Sergey Cherednichenko; Pourya Khosropanah; Aurele Adam; Therese Ottoson; Erik L. Kollberg

doi:10.1117/12.459709

17 February 2003 Bolometric Receivers for Terahertz Applications

Harald F. Merkel, Sergey Cherednichenko, Pourya Khosropanah, Aurele Adam, Therese Ottoson, Erik L. Kollberg

Proceedings Volume 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459709
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

Bolometric receivers serve as direct detectors, photon counters and as heterodyne receivers in astronomical instruments. Heterodyne hot-electron bolometric mixers show record sensitivity for observation frequencies above a Terahertz. In this paper NbN phonon-cooled mixers, conversion gain, noise and stability are discussed based on device models including Andreev reflection and critical current effects. The geometry (4 μm wide, 0.4 μm long on a 35 Å thick film), critical current (as high as possible) and critical temperature (about 8.5K) of an optimum phonon-cooled bolometric receiver operated at 2 to 4 K is discussed. Smaller devices than the optimum show worse noise performance. Larger devices require too high local oscillator power.

Citation Download Citation

Harald F. Merkel, Sergey Cherednichenko, Pourya Khosropanah, Aurele Adam, Therese Ottoson, and Erik L. Kollberg "Bolometric Receivers for Terahertz Applications", Proc. SPIE 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy, (17 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459709

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