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A V Smirnov,
A M Baryshev,
P Bernardis,
V F Vdovin, G N Gol'tsman,
N S Kardashev,
L S Kuz'min,
V P Koshelets,
A N Vystavkin,
Y V Lobanov,
S A Ryabchun,
M I Finkel,
D R Khokhlov
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ABSTRACT: We present an overview of the state of the onboard receiving complex of the Millimetron space observatory in the development phase of its preliminary design. The basic parameters of the onboard equipment planned to create and required for astrophysical observations are considered. A review of coherent and incoherent detectors, which are central to each receiver of the observatory, is given. Their characteristics and limiting parameters feasible at the present level of technology are reported.
Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics 01/2012; 54(8-9):557-568. · 0.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth of a hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer is an important parameter of the mixer, in that it helps to determine its suitability for a given application. With the availability of wideband low noise amplifiers, it is simple to measure the performance of an HEB mixer over a wide range of IF at a fixed LO frequency using the standard Y-factor method. This in-situ method allows us to measure both the gain and noise bandwidths simultaneously. We have also measured mixer output impedance with a vector network analyser. Intrinsic time constant has been extracted from the impedance data and compared to the mixer's bandwidths determined from receiver Y-factor measurement.
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/2011; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present the results of stability testing of a terahertz radiometer based on a superconducting receiver with a SIS tunnel junction as the mixer and a flux-flow oscillator as the local oscillator. In the continuum mode, the receiver with a noise temperature of 95 K at 510 GHz measured over the intermediate frequency (IF) passband of 4–8 GHz offered a noise equivalent temperature difference of 10 ± 1 mK at an integration time of 1 s. We offer a method to significantly increase the integration time without the use of complex measurement equipment. The receiver observed a strong signal over a final detection bandwidth of 4 GHz and offered an Allan time of 5 s.
Superconductor Science and Technology 12/2010; 24(3):035003. · 2.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report on the fabrication and investigation of few-nanometers-thick superconducting molybdenum–rhenium (Mo–Re) films intended for use in nanowire single-photon superconducting detectors (SSPDs). Mo–Re films were deposited on sapphire substrates by DC magnetron sputtering of an Mo(60)–Re(40) alloy target in an atmosphere of argon. The films 2–10 nm thick had critical temperatures (Tc) from 5.6 to 9.7 K. HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) analysis showed that the films had a homogeneous structure. XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analysis showed the Mo to Re atom ratio to be 0.575/0.425, oxygen concentration to be 10%, and concentration of other elements to be 1%.
Superconductor Science and Technology 09/2008; 21(11):115006. · 2.66 Impact Factor
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W. Słysz,
M. Wegrzecki,
J. Bar,
P. Grabiec,
M. Górska,
V. Zwiller,
C. Latta,
P. Böhi,
A. J. Pearlman,
A. S. Cross, [......],
I. Komissarov,
A. Verevkin,
I. Milostnaya,
A. Korneev,
O. Minayeva,
G. Chulkova,
K. Smirnov,
B. Voronov, G. N. Gol'tsman,
Roman Sobolewski
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ABSTRACT: We present a novel, two-channel, single photon receiver based on two fibre-coupled, NbN, superconducting, single photon detectors (SSPDs). The SSPDs are nanostructured superconducting meanders and are known for ultrafast and efficient detection of visible-to-infrared photons. Coupling between the NbN detector and optical fibre was achieved using a micromechanical photoresist ring placed directly over the SSPD, holding the fibre in place. With this arrangement, we obtained coupling efficiencies up to ∼30%. Our experimental results showed that the best receiver had a near-infrared system quantum efficiency of 0.33% at 4.2 K. The quantum efficiency increased exponentially with the photon energy increase, reaching a few percent level for visible-light photons. The photoresponse pulses of our devices were limited by the meander high kinetic inductance and had the rise and fall times of approximately 250 ps and 5 ns, respectively. The receiver's timing jitter was in the 37 to 58 ps range, approximately 2 to 3 times larger than in our older free-space-coupled SSPDs. We stipulate that this timing jitter is in part due to optical fibre properties. Besides quantum communications, the two-detector arrangement should also find applications in quantum correlation experiments.
Journal of Modern Optics 12/2006; 54(2-3):315-326. · 1.17 Impact Factor
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Ling Jiang,
Wei Miao,
Wen Zhang,
Ning Li,
Zhen Hui Lin,
Qi Jun Yao,
Sheng-Cai Shi,
S.I. Svechnikov,
Y.B. Vakhtomin,
S.V. Antipov,
B.M. Voronov,
N.S. Kaurova, G.N. Gol'tsman
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ABSTRACT: In this paper, the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixer, cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K refrigerator, is thoroughly investigated at 300, 500, and 850 GHz. The lowest receiver noise temperatures measured at the respective three frequencies are 1400, 900, and 1350 K, which can go down to 659, 413, and 529 K, respectively, after correcting the loss and associated noise contribution of the quasi-optical system before the measured superconducting HEB mixer. The stability of the quasi-optical superconducting HEB mixer is also investigated here. The Allan variance time measured with a local oscillator pumping at 500 GHz and an IF bandwidth of 110 MHz is 1.5 s at the dc-bias voltage exhibiting the lowest noise temperature and increases to 2.5 s at a dc bias twice that voltage.
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 08/2006; · 1.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We find that the sensitivity of heterodyne receivers based on superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) increases by 25–30% after annealing at 85 °C in vacuum. The devices studied are twin-slot antenna coupled mixers with a small NbN bridge of 1 × 0.15 µm2. We show that annealing changes the device properties as reflected in sharper resistive transitions of the complete device, apparently reducing the device-related noise. The lowest receiver noise temperature of 700 K is measured at a local oscillator frequency of 1.63 THz and a bath temperature of 4.3 K.
Superconductor Science and Technology 01/2006; 19(4):L9. · 2.66 Impact Factor
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G. N. Gol'tsman,
A. Korneev,
I. Rubtsova,
I. Milostnaya,
G. Chulkova,
O. Minaeva,
K. Smirnov,
B. Voronov,
W. Słysz,
A. Pearlman,
A. Verevkin,
Roman Sobolewski
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ABSTRACT: We present our progress on the research and development of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD's) for ultrafast counting of near-infrared photons for secure quantum communications. Our SSPD's operate in the quantum detection mode based on the photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent development of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-width superconducting stripe. The devices are fabricated from 4-nm-thick NbN films and kept in the 4.2- to 2-K temperature range. The detector experimental quantum efficiency in the photon-counting mode reaches above 40% for the visible light and up to 30% in the 1.3- to 1.55-µm wavelength range with dark counts below 0.01 per second. The experimental real-time counting rate is above 2 GHz and is limited by our readout electronics. The SSPD's timing jitter is below 18 ps, and the best-measured value of the noise-equivalent power (NEP) is 5 × 10–21 W/Hz1/2 at 1.3 µm. In terms of quantum efficiency, timing jitter, and maximum counting rate, our NbN SSPD's significantly outperform semiconductor avalanche photodiodes and photomultipliers in the 1.3- to 1.55-µm range. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
physica status solidi (c) 02/2005; 2(5):1480 - 1488.
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ABSTRACT: Electromagnetic radiation of the submillimeter (SMM) range is dispersed and absorbed significantly less than infrared (IR) radiation when passing through different objects. That is the reason for the development of an SMM imaging system. In this paper, we discuss the design of an SMM heterodyne imager, based on a matrix of AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure hot electron bolometer mixers (HEB) with relatively high (about 77 K) operating temperature. The predicted double side band (DSB) noise temperature is about 1000 K and optimal local oscillator (LO) power is about 1 μW for such mixers, which seems to be quite prospective for an SMM heterodyne imager.
Physics and Engineering of Microwaves, Millimeter, and Submillimeter Waves, 2004. MSMW 04. The Fifth International Kharkov Symposium on; 07/2004
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J Zhang,
A. Pearlman,
W. Slysz,
A. Verevkin,
R. Sobolewski,
K. Wilsher,
W. Lo,
O. Okunev,
A. Korneev,
P. Kouminov,
G. Chulkova, G.N. Gol'tsman
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ABSTRACT: In this paper, a novel, time-resolved, NbN-based, superconducting single-photon detector (SSPD) has been developed for probing CMOS integrated circuits (ICs) using photon emission timing analysis (PETA).
Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, 2003. LEOS 2003. The 16th Annual Meeting of the IEEE; 11/2003
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J. Zhang,
N. Boiadjieva,
G. Chulkova,
H. Deslandes, G.N. Gol'tsman,
A. Korneev,
P. Kouminov,
M. Leibowitz,
W. Lo,
R. Malinsky,
O. Okunev,
A. Pearlman,
W. Slysz,
K. Smirnov,
C. Tsao,
A. Verevkin,
B. Voronov,
K. Wilsher,
R. Sobolewski
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ABSTRACT: The 3.5 nm thick-film, meander-structured NbN superconducting single-photon detectors have been implemented in the CMOS circuit-testing system based on the detection of near-infrared photon emission from switching transistors and have significantly improved the performance of the system. Photon emissions from both p- and n-MOS transistors have been observed.
Electronics Letters 08/2003; · 0.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Fabrication of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors, based on the hotspot effect is presented. The hotspot formation arises in an ultrathin and submicrometer-width superconductor stripe and, together with the supercurrent redistribution, leads to the resistive detector response upon absorption of a photon. The detector has a meander structure to maximally increase its active area and reach the highest detection efficiency. Main processing steps, leading to efficient devices, sensitive in 0.4-5 μm wavelength range, are presented. The impact of various processing steps on the performance and operational parameters of our detectors is discussed.
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/2003; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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A.D. Semenov,
H.-W. Hubers,
H. Richter,
M. Birk,
M. Krocka,
U. Mair,
Y.B. Vachtomin,
M.I. Finkel,
S.V. Antipov,
B.M. Voronov,
K.V. Smirnov,
N.S. Kaurova,
V.N. Drakinski, G.N. Gol'tsman
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ABSTRACT: We present recent results showing the development of superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer for German receiver for astronomy at terahertz frequencies and terahertz limb sounder. The mixer is incorporated into a planar feed antenna, which has either logarithmic spiral or double-slot configuration, and backed on a silicon lens. The hybrid antenna had almost frequency independent and symmetric radiation pattern slightly broader than expected for a diffraction limited antenna. At 2.5 THz the best 2200 K double side-band receiver noise temperature was achieved across a 1 GHz intermediate frequency bandwidth centred at 1.5 GHz. For this operation regime, a receiver conversion efficiency of -17 dB was directly measured and the loss budget was evaluated. The mixer response was linear at load temperatures smaller than 400 K. Implementation of the MgO buffer layer on Si resulted in an increased 5.2 GHz gain bandwidth. The receiver was tested in the laboratory environment by measuring a methanol emission line at 2.5 THz.
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/2003; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report our time-resolved measurements of NbN-based superconducting single-photon detectors. The structures are meander-type, 10-nm thick, and 200-nm wide stripes and were operated at 4.2 K. We have shown that the NbN devices can count single-photon pulses with below 100-ps time resolution. The response signal pulse width was about 150 ps, and the system jitter was measured to be 35 ps.
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/2003; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present a new class of ultrafast single-photon detectors for counting both visible and infrared photons. The detection mechanism is based on photon-induced hotspot formation, which forces the supercurrent redistribution and leads to the appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin, submicrometer-width, superconducting stripe. The devices were fabricated from 3.5-nm- and 10-nm-thick NbN films, patterned into <200-nm-wide stripes in the 4 × 4-μm<sup>2</sup> or 10 × 10-μm<sup>2</sup> meander-type geometry, and operated at 4.2 K, well below the NbN critical temperature (T<sub>c</sub>=10-11 K). Continuous-wave and pulsed-laser optical sources in the 400-nm-to 3500-nm-wavelength range were used to determine the detector performance in the photon-counting mode. Experimental quantum efficiency was found to exponentially depend on the photon wavelength, and for our best, 3.5-nm-thick, 100-μm<sup>2</sup>-area devices varied from >10% for 405-nm radiation to 3.5% for 1550-nm photons. The detector response time and jitter were ∼100 ps and 35 ps, respectively, and were acquisition system limited. The dark counts were below 0.01 per second at optimal biasing. In terms of the counting rate, jitter, and dark counts, the NbN single-photon detectors significantly outperform their semiconductor counterparts. Already-identified applications for our devices range from noncontact testing of semiconductor CMOS VLSI circuits to free-space quantum cryptography and communications.
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/2003; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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J Zhang,
A. Pearlman,
W. Slysz,
A. Verevkin,
R. Sobolewski,
O. Okunev,
A. Korneev,
P. Kouminov,
K. Smirnov,
G. Chulkova, G.N. Gol'tsman,
W. Lo,
K. Wilsher
Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO '03. Conference on; 07/2003
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ABSTRACT: New advances in hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have recently
resulted in record-low receiver noise temperatures at terahertz
frequencies. We have developed quasi-optically coupled NbN HEB mixers
and measured noise temperatures up to 2.24 THz, as described in this
paper. We project the anticipated future performance of such receivers
to have even lower noise temperature and local-oscillator power
requirement as well as wider gain and noise bandwidths. We introduce a
proposal for integrated focal plane arrays of HEB mixers that will
further increase the detection speed of terahertz systems
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 01/2000; · 1.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report an effective quantum efficiency of 340, responsivity >200 A W-1 (>104 V W-1) and response time of 27±5 ps at temperatures close to the superconducting transition for NbN superconducting hot-electron photodetectors (HEPs) in the near-infrared and optical ranges. Our studies were performed on a few nm thick NbN films deposited on sapphire substrates and patterned into µm-size multibridge detector structures, incorporated into a coplanar transmission line. The time-resolved photoresponse was studied by means of subpicosecond electro-optic sampling with 100 fs wide laser pulses. The quantum efficiency and responsivity studies of our photodetectors were conducted using an amplitude-modulated infrared beam, fibre-optically coupled to the device. The observed picosecond response time and the very high efficiency and sensitivity of the NbN HEPs make them an excellent choice for infrared imaging photodetectors and input optical-to-electrical transducers for superconducting digital circuits.
Superconductor Science and Technology 11/1999; 12(11):755. · 2.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report our studies on the response of ultrathin superconducting
NbN hot-electron photodetectors. We have measured the photoresponse of
few-nm-thick, micron-size structures, which consisted of single and
multiple microbridges, to radiation from the continuous-wave
semiconductor laser and the femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser with the
wavelength of 790 nm and 400 nm, respectively. The maximum responsivity
was observed near the film's superconducting transition with the device
optimally current-biased in the resistive state. The responsivity of the
detector, normalized to its illuminated area and the coupling factor,
was 220 A/W(3×10<sup>4</sup> V/W), which corresponded to a quantum
efficiency of 340. The responsivity was wavelength independent from the
far infrared to the ultraviolet range, and was at least two orders of
magnitude higher than comparable semiconductor optical detectors. The
time constant of the photoresponse signal was 45 ps, when was measured
at 2.15 K in the resistive (switched) state using a cryogenic
electro-optical sampling technique with subpicosecond resolution. The
obtained results agree very well with our calculations performed using a
two-temperature model of the electron heating in thin superconducting
films
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/1999; · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present an analysis of a diffusion-cooled hot-electron
bolometer in the limiting case of a weak thermalization of
non-equilibrium quasiparticles. We propose a new model relying on the
non-thermal suppression of the superconducting energy gap by excess
quasiparticles. Using material parameters typical for Al, we evaluate
performance of the bolometer in the heterodyne regime at terahertz
frequencies. Estimates show that the mixer may have quantum limited
noise temperature and a few tens of GHz bandwidth, while the required
local oscillator power is in the μW range due to in-effective
suppression of the energy gap by quasiparticles with high energies
IEEE Transactions on Appiled Superconductivity 07/1999; · 1.04 Impact Factor
