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URSI Asia-Pacific Radio Science Conference

Development of superconducting mixers at sub-millimeter wavelengths

Sheng-Cai Shi

Published Apr 25, 2005• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The MM and SubMM Lab of Purple Mountain Observatory has made major efforts in the development of high-sensitivity detectors for radio astronomy. The paper mainly introduces the development of a 500-GHz superconducting SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) mixer and an 850-GHz HEB (hot-electron-bolometer) mixer.
DOI
10.1109/aprasc.2004.1422493

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Superconducting heterodyne mixers have found widespread use throughout the Millimeter- and Sub-millimeter wavelength range in radio astronomy applications that need very high spectral resolution. To extend their operating range into the Terahertz region, which is opened up by new high altitude observatories, airborne platforms or satellites, requires further development of superconductor materials as well as progress in radio frequency (RF) design and detector fabrication. This paper summarizes the basic challenges in these areas.
Superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers are the most sensitive heterodyne receivers for mm and submm wavelengths. SIS mixers are installed on all state of the art submm observatories such as the Atacama Large Millimeter array (ALMA) and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). Recently, an improved type of Nb/AlN/NbN SIS junction has become available that combines higher gap voltage with high current density. This opens new parametric space for further improvement of the SIS mixer's performance and bandwidth both for frequencies higher and lower than the gap frequency of Nb (700 GHz). In this contribution we will describe designs of SIS mixers based on a new type of SIS junction, both for high (~900 GHz) and low (~200 GHz) frequencies.
Cosmic dust, cold matter and many other objects at far space have many spectral lines at the THz frequency range, leading to a rich information spectrum for astronomical observations. Ordinarily, these detected sub-mm signals from space are weak, and consequently very sensitive detectors are required to reduce the minimal time of the measurements with the desired accuracy. The main focus of this work is the design and development of superconducting high-frequency waveguide receivers at 211-275 GHz, 600-720 GHz and 780-950 GHz frequency ranges, in addition to superconducting planar integrated circuits matched with a planar Flux-Flow-Oscillator. This work is bridging the calculation methods applied for the design on one hand and the development of experimental instruments on the other.
The progress made in relation to the development of sensitive submillimeter heterodyne receiver systems is reviewed. Sensitive superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixers were demonstrated at frequencies of greater than 1 THz, with noise temperatures of below 1000 K. An alternative mixer technology is that of the superconducting hot electron bolometer, for which sensitivities of 1.2 THz and 2.5 THz were demonstrated. Local oscillator technology is under development. Gunn oscillators followed by Schottky varactor frequency multipliers have sufficient output power to drive SIS mixers at 1 THz. It is considered that optical photomixer local oscillators have potential for driving hot electron bolometers above 1 THz.