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Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids

Low noise Nb-based SIS mixer for sub-millimeter wave detection

Ming-Jye Wang, Hongwei Cheng, Y.H Ho, C.C Chin, C.C. Chi

Published Sep 1, 2001• 7 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1016/s0022-3697(01)00106-8

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We study noise and conversion gain in the SIS mixers with Nb/MgO/NbN junctions at the millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths in order to estimate the possibility to extent the low noise operation towards the theoretical limit of 4/spl Delta//h=2.4 THz. We present as preliminary result the lowest achieved receiver noise with NbN SIS junctions of 65 K with conversion gain of -6 dB at 162 GHz and 230 K receiver noise with conversion gain of -10 dB at 306 GHz. The junction area is 2 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and Josephson critical current density is 1.4 KA/cm/sup 2/. The optimum R/sub N//spl omega/C of NbN junction for mixers is estimated as 600 GHz/V. In preliminary tests the junctions R/sub N//spl omega/C is 10-20 time superior to the optimum and a significant improvement of NbN SIS mixers may be expected. The noise sources in the NbN SIS junctions are studied and a possible mixer sensitivity improvement is discussed. The thermal properties of the SIS NbN are studied. The frequency limit of the low loss integrated tuning structure in NbN is estimated as at least as 1.5 THz.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 1997•9 citations
Abstract The authors developed a dual‐frequency (40/100 GHz) SIS receiver with SIS quasi‐particle tunneling junction element as the mixer, for use in the millimeter‐wave array at Nobeyama Radio Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory. The SIS element used is an array composed of four series‐connected Nb/Al‐AlOx/Nb junctions. The receiver is refrigerated to 4.3 K by a closed‐cycle He refrigerator. The receiver realized a very low receiver noise temperature for a wideband, such as 50 to 80 K for 43 to 49 GHz, and 60 to 100 K for 86 to 115 GHz. A wide dynamic range is also realized. At 40 Ghz, the saturation noise temperature is 2000 to 3000 K, compared with the wideband noise. These results indicate that the SIS array element can effectively improve the mixer saturation level without degrading the receiver performance.
We describe quasi-optical SIS mixers operating in the submillimeter band (500-750 GHz) which have very low noise, around 5 h/spl nu//k/sub B/ for the double-sideband receiver noise temperature. The mixers use a twin-slot antenna, Nb/Al-Oxide/Nb tunnel junctions fabricated with optical lithography, a two-junction tuning circuit, and a silicon hyperhemispherical lens with a novel antireflection coating to optimize the optical efficiency. We have flown a submillimeter receiver using these mixers on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, and have detected a transition of H/sub 2//sup 18/O at 745 GHz. This directly confirms that SIS junctions are capable of low-noise mixing above the gap frequency.>
We study noise and conversion gain in the SIS mixers with Nb/MgO/NbN junctions at the millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths in order to estimate the possibility to extent the low noise operation towards the theoretical limit of 4/spl Delta//h=2.4 THz. We present as preliminary result the lowest achieved receiver noise with NbN SIS junctions of 65 K with conversion gain of -6 dB at 162 GHz and 230 K receiver noise with conversion gain of -10 dB at 306 GHz. The junction area is 2 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and Josephson critical current density is 1.4 KA/cm/sup 2/. The optimum R/sub N//spl omega/C of NbN junction for mixers is estimated as 600 GHz/V. In preliminary tests the junctions R/sub N//spl omega/C is 10-20 time superior to the optimum and a significant improvement of NbN SIS mixers may be expected. The noise sources in the NbN SIS junctions are studied and a possible mixer sensitivity improvement is discussed. The thermal properties of the SIS NbN are studied. The frequency limit of the low loss integrated tuning structure in NbN is estimated as at least as 1.5 THz.