Development of a Quasi-Optical NbN Superconducting HEB Mixer

W. Zhang, Liangcong Jiang, Zhaohui Lin, Qi Yao, Jun Li, S. C. Shi, S. Svechnikov, Yu. B. Vachtomin, Sergey V. Antipov, Boris M. Voronov, N. Kaurova, G. N. Gol'Tsman

Published May 1, 2005• 2 citations

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Abstract

In this paper, we report the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB (hot electron bolometer) mixer measured at 500 and 850GHz. The quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer is cryogenically cooled by a 4-K close-cycled refrigerator. Measured receiver noise temperature at 850 and 500GHz are 3000K and 2500K respectively with wire grid as beamsplitter, while the lowest receiver noise temperature is found to be approximately 1200K with Mylar film. The theoretical receiver noise temperature (taking into account the elliptical polarization of log-spiral antenna) is consistent with measured one. The receiver noise temperature and conversion gain with 15-μm Mylar film as the beamsplitter at 500GHz are thoroughly investigated for different LO pumping levels and dc biases. The stability of the mixer’s IF output power is also demonstrated.

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