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Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics

Submillimeter-band mixer utilizing superconducting point contacts

A. I. Akimenko, В. С. Соловьев, I. K. Yanson

Published Oct 31, 1976• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

An investigation was made of the mixing of a 74 GHz klystron signal with HCN laser radiation (891 GHz) in superconducting Nb-Nb point contacts at 4.2°K. Anodized high-resistivity contacts were found to be efficient and stable mixers. A model was developed to explain the characteristics of the mixing of harmonics.
DOI
10.1070/qe1976v006n10abeh011911

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Experiments are described in which Josephson point contacts were used to generate and mix harmonics (up to the 96th) of microwave klystrons with the radiation from an HCN laser at 891 GHz. A qualitative analysis of mixing of two external radiations in a Josephson junction is given in order to understand the existence of mixing components independent of the Josephson oscillation frequency and linewidth. The spectral analysis of the HCN laser shows the importance of the microwave source spectral purity when frequency multiplication by large factors is considered.
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The performance of Nb-Nb point-contact Josephson junction mixers was investigated experimentally with signals from a 891 GHz laser. The local oscillator (LO) was provided by the appropriate junction-generated harmonic of either a 74 or 99 GHz klystron. The intermediate frequency (IF) power varied linearly with signal power for signals less than 10 −5 to 10 −6 W. The optimum conversion loss (from 891 GHz to the IF) was not significantly different for the two klystron frequencies used: the lowest useful conversion loss for the whole mixing system including the signal input matching loss, was 42 (±3) dB. This is 10 dB greater than that observed with a 891 GHz laser LO and the same junction apparatus. Conversion loss of the mixer element alone was independent of IF with the latter varied up to 1·2 GHz. The noise at the output of the IF system was usually dominated by that of the transistor preamplifier with a noise temperature of about 500 K. Thus the input signal necessary to give a signal-to-noise ratio of one at the IF was equivalent to 10 −16 W Hz −1 of IF bandwidth. This mixing system, which can be significantly improved, forms the basis of a fully tunable heterodyne receiver for the submillimetre region.