Title :
Development of phonon cooled hot-electron-bolometers (HEB) for applications in THz radioastronomy
Author :
Scherer, T.A. ; Frommberger, M. ; Schicke, M. ; Schuster, K.
Author_Institution :
Inst. de Radioastron. Millimetrique, St-Martin-d´´ Heres, France
fDate :
27 Sept.-1 Oct. 2004
Abstract :
Heterodyne detection of weak THz signals can be obtained with ultrathin superconducting microbridge bolometers where frequency mixing is achieved by rapid relaxation of hot electrons in resistive hot spots. These devices do not suffer from the superconducting band gap limit of conventional SIS mixers. Phonon cooled HEBs from NbN allow mixing with IF bandwidths up to several GHz. We discuss NbN thin film optimization and present characterization methods which allow to investigate the phonon cooling path.
Keywords :
Raman spectra; astronomical instruments; bolometers; niobium compounds; radioastronomy; submillimetre astronomy; submillimetre wave mixers; superconducting microbridges; superconducting mixers; superconducting thin films; IF bandwidths; NbN; NbN thin film; THz radioastronomy; frequency mixing; heterodyne detection; hot electron bolometers; phonon cooling; rapid hot electron relaxation; resistive hot spots; superconducting band gap; terahertz radioastronomy; ultrathin superconducting microbridge bolometers; weak THz signals; Bandwidth; Bolometers; Cooling; Electrons; Frequency; Optimization methods; Phonons; Photonic band gap; Superconducting devices; Superconducting thin films;
Conference_Titel :
Infrared and Millimeter Waves, 2004 and 12th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics, 2004. Conference Digest of the 2004 Joint 29th International Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8490-3
DOI :
10.1109/ICIMW.2004.1422156
