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Wide Bandwidth Far-Infrared Mixing Using a High-T(c) Superconducting Bolometer

Mark Lee, Li, Richard C.

Published Sep 29, 2000• 3 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We report on the gain bandwidth and noise characteristics of far-infrared mixers using high-Tc superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) thin films. The YBCO films are patterned into lattice-cooled hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) coupled to an integrated antenna and transmission line. Heterodyne and homodyne down- conversion using LO frequencies of 115 GHz and 585 GHz show a device conversion gain of as high as -9.5 dB at 66 K using 1 micro W of LO power. Y-factor noise measurements show a double-sideband noise temperature of 3400 K at 66 K. Both gain and noise bandwidths show a single-pole roll-off with -3 dB point near 10 GHz.

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Small volume high-Tc super-conducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) thin films are used as low power, very wide bandwidth mixers in the frequency range of 75 GHz to 2.5 THz. The YBCO films are patterned into lattice-cooled hot-electron bolometers (HEB) coupled to an integrated Au thin-film antenna and transmission line. Near 77 K, these mixers have responsivity as high as 780 V/W using only 8 nW of local oscillator (LO) power at 585 GHz. The responsivity can be shown to be truly bolometric. Direct heterodyne and homodyne down-conversion mixing using local-oscillator frequencies of 75 GHz and 585 GHz show overall conversion gains of -35 dB, which includes a -18 dB coupling loss, using only approximately 1 (mu) W of LO power. The gain bandwidth shows a simple Lorentzian roll-off with -3 dB point of 5 to 8 GHz. The large gain bandwidth and small power requirements make these high-Tc superconducting mixers an attractive alternative to existing Schottky diode and conventional superconducting receiver technologies.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Dec 22, 1998•1 citation

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Conversion gain bandwidth and noise characteristics are reported for lattice-cooled superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 hot-electron bolometers acting as low-power, wide-bandwidth heterodyne mixers at 75 and 585 GHz. Near 77 K, these mixers show intrinsic conversion gain as high as −16 dB using ∼1 μW of local oscillator power. The measured gain bandwidth is well described by a single Lorentzian with −3 dB frequency of 5–9 GHz. Measurements of output noise combined with conversion gain indicate an optimal input noise temperature of ∼5000 K, significantly lower than calculations predict.

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The conversion gain bandwidth characteristics of millimeter-wave mixers using high-Tc superconducting YBa2Cu307 (YBCO) thin films are presented. The YBCO films are patterned into latticecooled hot-electron bolometers (HEB) coupled to an integrated antenna and transmission line. Direct heterodyne and homodyne down-conversion measurements using local-oscillator frequencies of 75 GHz and 585 GHz show overall conversion gains of -35 dB, which includes a -18 dB coupling loss. The gain bandwidth shows a simple Lorentzian roll-off with -3 dB point of 5 to 8 GHz. No second plateau in the gain spectrum has been observed, in contrast to other reports. The effective volume of the HEB is believed to be significantly smaller than the physical dimensions of the device. Gershenzon, et al. 1 first proposed the design of a lattice-cooled superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) for use as a low-power, wide-band-width heterodyne mixer at millimeter and submillimeter-wave frequencies. This idea has been successfully implemented using NbN , which shows a conversion gain as high as -15 dB using 1 1.tW of pump power at a temperature of 4.2 K. The ultimate speed and bandwidth of the lattice-cooled HEB is determined by the electron-phonon scattering rate. For this reason, Gershenzon 3 suggested that the high normal-state resistivity of the high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu307 (YBCO) could indicate a very fast electron inelastic scattering, rate and so make this material an ideal candidate to produce a very wide instantaneous bandwidth lattice-cooled HEB operating at 77 K. The first reports of such mixers at 1.5 gm (Ref. 4) and 9.6 gm (Ref. 5) wavelengths showed a very low intrinsic conversion gain of -77 dB (excluding coupling losses) using a relatively large 0.3 mW of absorbed LO power. However, the gain bandwidth showed a twoplateau structure. A low frequency plateau near -77 dB rolled off near 1 GHz intermediate frequency (IF) but gave way to a second plateau near -90 dB that extended to at least 18 GHz, the upper limit of the measurement. Karasik, et al., have done extensive calculations on the conversion gain properties of lattice-cooled HEB mixers for different mixer dimensions, using a two-temperature model. They found that the conversion gain increases

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We report on an experimental investigation of high-Tc superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers of YBCO. These mixers were tested at 100 and 530 GHz LO for a range of temperatures around 77 K. The conversion gain of -32 dB was measured at an LO power of about 1 mW (530 GHz) and 0.3 GHz IF. The mixers were integrated with a logarithmic spiral antenna on a silicon lens, providing a broad frequency coverage (well above 1 THz). To measure the incident RF signal power we used the homodyne responsivity (see abstract "Terahertz response of YBCO HEB homodyne detectors") which is referenced to the input of the silicon lens where the bolometers were glued. Corrections were made for losses in the cryostat window and polarization losses between the signal and antenna. We made the measurements at different temperatures and different LO power levels which were measured using a quasi optical detector at room temperature. The 3 dB gain bandwidth was measured to be about 0.2 GHz. The bolometer bridges have nominal dimensions 1 μm x 2 μm x 50 nm and are fabricated on sapphire substrates using UV photolithography. Backward wave oscillators sources were used at 530 GHz and Gunn diodes at 100 GHz.

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Low-noise and wideband hot-electron superconductive mixer for terahertz frequencies

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Superconductive hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have been built and tested in the frequency range from 1.1 THz to 2.5 THz. The mixer device is a 0.15 - 0.3 micrometer microbridge made from a 10 nm thick Nb film. This device employs diffusion as a cooling mechanism for hot electrons. The double sideband noise temperature was measured to be less than or equal to 3000 K at 2.5 THz and the mixer IF bandwidth is expected to be at least 10 GHz for a 0.1 micrometer long device. The local oscillator (LO) power dissipated in the HEB microbridge was 20 - 100 nW. Further improvement of the mixer characteristics can be potentially achieved by using Al microbridges. The advantages and parameters of such devices are evaluated. The HEB mixer is a primary candidate for ground based, airborne and spaceborne heterodyne instruments at THz frequencies. HEB receivers are planned for use on the NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and the ESA Far Infrared and Submillimeter Space Telescope (FIRST). The prospects of a submicron-size YBa2Cu3O7-(delta ) (YBCO) HEB are discussed. The expected LO power of 1 - 10 (mu) W and SSB noise temperature of approximately equals 2000 K may make this mixer attractive for various remote sensing applications.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 13, 1998•1 citation

Length scaling of bandwidth and noise in hot-electron superconducting mixers

Peter John Burke, R. J. Schoelkopf, D. E. Prober +4 more

Mixing experiments have been performed at frequencies from 4 to 20 GHz on Nb thin-film superconducting hot-electron bolometers varying in length from 0.08 to 3 μm. The intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth is found to vary as L−2, with L the bridge length, for devices shorter than √12 Le−ph≊1 μm, with Le−ph the electron-phonon length. The shortest device has an IF bandwidth greater than 6 GHz, the largest reported for a low-Tc superconducting bolometric mixer. The conversion efficiencies range from −5 to −11 dB (single sideband, SSB). For short bridges, the mixer noise temperature is found to be as low as 100 K (double sideband, DSB), with little length dependence. The local oscillator power required is small, ≊10 nW. Such mixers are very promising for low-noise THz heterodyne receivers.

Applied Physics Letters•Jun 3, 1996•72 citations
We report on the gain bandwidth and noise characteristics of far-infrared mixers using high-Tc superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) thin films. The YBCO films are patterned into lattice-cooled hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) coupled to an integrated antenna and transmission line. Heterodyne and homodyne down- conversion using LO frequencies of 115 GHz and 585 GHz show a device conversion gain of as high as -9.5 dB at 66 K using 1 micro W of LO power. Y-factor noise measurements show a double-sideband noise temperature of 3400 K at 66 K. Both gain and noise bandwidths show a single-pole roll-off with -3 dB point near 10 GHz.
Small volume high-Tc super-conducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) thin films are used as low power, very wide bandwidth mixers in the frequency range of 75 GHz to 2.5 THz. The YBCO films are patterned into lattice-cooled hot-electron bolometers (HEB) coupled to an integrated Au thin-film antenna and transmission line. Near 77 K, these mixers have responsivity as high as 780 V/W using only 8 nW of local oscillator (LO) power at 585 GHz. The responsivity can be shown to be truly bolometric. Direct heterodyne and homodyne down-conversion mixing using local-oscillator frequencies of 75 GHz and 585 GHz show overall conversion gains of -35 dB, which includes a -18 dB coupling loss, using only approximately 1 (mu) W of LO power. The gain bandwidth shows a simple Lorentzian roll-off with -3 dB point of 5 to 8 GHz. The large gain bandwidth and small power requirements make these high-Tc superconducting mixers an attractive alternative to existing Schottky diode and conventional superconducting receiver technologies.
Conversion gain bandwidth and noise characteristics are reported for lattice-cooled superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 hot-electron bolometers acting as low-power, wide-bandwidth heterodyne mixers at 75 and 585 GHz. Near 77 K, these mixers show intrinsic conversion gain as high as −16 dB using ∼1 μW of local oscillator power. The measured gain bandwidth is well described by a single Lorentzian with −3 dB frequency of 5–9 GHz. Measurements of output noise combined with conversion gain indicate an optimal input noise temperature of ∼5000 K, significantly lower than calculations predict.
The conversion gain bandwidth characteristics of millimeter-wave mixers using high-Tc superconducting YBa2Cu307 (YBCO) thin films are presented. The YBCO films are patterned into latticecooled hot-electron bolometers (HEB) coupled to an integrated antenna and transmission line. Direct heterodyne and homodyne down-conversion measurements using local-oscillator frequencies of 75 GHz and 585 GHz show overall conversion gains of -35 dB, which includes a -18 dB coupling loss. The gain bandwidth shows a simple Lorentzian roll-off with -3 dB point of 5 to 8 GHz. No second plateau in the gain spectrum has been observed, in contrast to other reports. The effective volume of the HEB is believed to be significantly smaller than the physical dimensions of the device. Gershenzon, et al. 1 first proposed the design of a lattice-cooled superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) for use as a low-power, wide-band-width heterodyne mixer at millimeter and submillimeter-wave frequencies. This idea has been successfully implemented using NbN , which shows a conversion gain as high as -15 dB using 1 1.tW of pump power at a temperature of 4.2 K. The ultimate speed and bandwidth of the lattice-cooled HEB is determined by the electron-phonon scattering rate. For this reason, Gershenzon 3 suggested that the high normal-state resistivity of the high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu307 (YBCO) could indicate a very fast electron inelastic scattering, rate and so make this material an ideal candidate to produce a very wide instantaneous bandwidth lattice-cooled HEB operating at 77 K. The first reports of such mixers at 1.5 gm (Ref. 4) and 9.6 gm (Ref. 5) wavelengths showed a very low intrinsic conversion gain of -77 dB (excluding coupling losses) using a relatively large 0.3 mW of absorbed LO power. However, the gain bandwidth showed a twoplateau structure. A low frequency plateau near -77 dB rolled off near 1 GHz intermediate frequency (IF) but gave way to a second plateau near -90 dB that extended to at least 18 GHz, the upper limit of the measurement. Karasik, et al., have done extensive calculations on the conversion gain properties of lattice-cooled HEB mixers for different mixer dimensions, using a two-temperature model. They found that the conversion gain increases
We report on an experimental investigation of high-Tc superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers of YBCO. These mixers were tested at 100 and 530 GHz LO for a range of temperatures around 77 K. The conversion gain of -32 dB was measured at an LO power of about 1 mW (530 GHz) and 0.3 GHz IF. The mixers were integrated with a logarithmic spiral antenna on a silicon lens, providing a broad frequency coverage (well above 1 THz). To measure the incident RF signal power we used the homodyne responsivity (see abstract "Terahertz response of YBCO HEB homodyne detectors") which is referenced to the input of the silicon lens where the bolometers were glued. Corrections were made for losses in the cryostat window and polarization losses between the signal and antenna. We made the measurements at different temperatures and different LO power levels which were measured using a quasi optical detector at room temperature. The 3 dB gain bandwidth was measured to be about 0.2 GHz. The bolometer bridges have nominal dimensions 1 μm x 2 μm x 50 nm and are fabricated on sapphire substrates using UV photolithography. Backward wave oscillators sources were used at 530 GHz and Gunn diodes at 100 GHz.
Superconductive hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have been built and tested in the frequency range from 1.1 THz to 2.5 THz. The mixer device is a 0.15 - 0.3 micrometer microbridge made from a 10 nm thick Nb film. This device employs diffusion as a cooling mechanism for hot electrons. The double sideband noise temperature was measured to be less than or equal to 3000 K at 2.5 THz and the mixer IF bandwidth is expected to be at least 10 GHz for a 0.1 micrometer long device. The local oscillator (LO) power dissipated in the HEB microbridge was 20 - 100 nW. Further improvement of the mixer characteristics can be potentially achieved by using Al microbridges. The advantages and parameters of such devices are evaluated. The HEB mixer is a primary candidate for ground based, airborne and spaceborne heterodyne instruments at THz frequencies. HEB receivers are planned for use on the NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and the ESA Far Infrared and Submillimeter Space Telescope (FIRST). The prospects of a submicron-size YBa2Cu3O7-(delta ) (YBCO) HEB are discussed. The expected LO power of 1 - 10 (mu) W and SSB noise temperature of approximately equals 2000 K may make this mixer attractive for various remote sensing applications.
Mixing experiments have been performed at frequencies from 4 to 20 GHz on Nb thin-film superconducting hot-electron bolometers varying in length from 0.08 to 3 μm. The intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth is found to vary as L−2, with L the bridge length, for devices shorter than √12 Le−ph≊1 μm, with Le−ph the electron-phonon length. The shortest device has an IF bandwidth greater than 6 GHz, the largest reported for a low-Tc superconducting bolometric mixer. The conversion efficiencies range from −5 to −11 dB (single sideband, SSB). For short bridges, the mixer noise temperature is found to be as low as 100 K (double sideband, DSB), with little length dependence. The local oscillator power required is small, ≊10 nW. Such mixers are very promising for low-noise THz heterodyne receivers.