Title :
Noise characteristics of a NbN hot-electron mixer at 2.5 THz
Author :
Semenov, A.D. ; Gousev, Y.P. ; Renk, K.F. ; Voronov, B.M. ; Gol´tsman, G.N. ; Gershenzon, E.M. ; Schwaab, G.W. ; Feinaugle, R.
Author_Institution :
Inst. fur Angewandte Phys., Regensburg Univ., Germany
fDate :
6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The noise temperature of a NbN phonon cooled hot-electron mixer has been measured at a frequency of 2.5 THz for various operating conditions. We obtained for optimal operation a double sideband mixer noise temperature of /spl ap/14000 K and a system conversion loss of /spl ap/23 dB at intermediate frequencies up to 1 GHz. The dependences of the mixer noise temperature on the bias voltage, local oscillator power, and intermediate frequency were consistent with the phenomenological description based on the effective temperature approximation.
Keywords :
electron-phonon interactions; hot carriers; niobium compounds; submillimetre wave mixers; superconducting device noise; superconducting device testing; superconducting microbridges; superconducting microwave devices; 1 GHz; 2.5 THz; 23 dB; I-V characteristics; NbN; NbN hot-electron mixer; bias voltage; double sideband mixer noise temperature; effective temperature approximation; local oscillator power; mixer noise temperature; noise characteristics; noise temperature; operating conditions; phenomenological description; phonon cooled hot-electron mixer; system conversion loss; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency; Local oscillators; Mixers; Space technology; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting transition temperature; Superconducting transmission lines; Temperature dependence; Temperature sensors;
Journal_Title :
Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on
