Measurement of intermediate frequency bandwidth of hot electron bolometer mixers at terahertz frequency range

Author

Meledin, Denis ; Tong, C. Y Edward ; Blundell, Raymond ; Goltsman, Gregory

Author_Institution

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophys., Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

13

Issue

11

fYear

2003

Firstpage

493

Lastpage

495

Abstract

We have developed a new experimental setup for measuring the IF bandwidth of superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers. In our measurement system we use a chopped hot filament as a broadband signal source, and can perform a high-speed IF scan with no loss of accuracy when compared to coherent methods. Using this technique we have measured the 3 dB IF bandwidth of hot electron bolometer mixers, designed for THz frequency operation, and made from 3-4 nm thick NbN film deposited on an MgO buffer layer over crystalline quartz.

Keywords

bolometers; hot carriers; magnesium compounds; niobium compounds; submillimetre wave measurement; submillimetre wave mixers; submillimetre wave receivers; superconducting microwave devices; superconducting mixers; 1.26 THz; 3 dB IF bandwidth; 3 to 4 nm; 3.7 to 6.6 GHz; IF bandwidth measurement; MgO buffer layer; NbN film; NbN-MgO-SiO/sub 2/; THz frequency operation; broadband signal source; chopped hot filament; crystalline quartz; high-speed IF scan; intermediate frequency bandwidth; measurement system; submillimeter wavelength heterodyne receivers; submillimeter waves; superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers; Bandwidth; Bolometers; Buffer layers; Electrons; Frequency measurement; Loss measurement; Performance evaluation; Submillimeter wave measurements; Superconducting filaments and wires; Thickness measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2003.817133

Filename

1243542