Superconducting Nb DHEB Mixer Arrays for Far-Infrared Spectroscopy

Published

February 12, 2001

Author(s)

Eyal Gerecht, Carl D. Reintsema, Erich N. Grossman, A. L. Betz, R. T. Boreiko

Abstract

We are developing a heterodyne focal plane array with up to eight elements to study lines with frequencies of 2 THz and above. It is intended for studies of the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres. Our fabricatin process utilizes selective ion milling techniques to produce NB Diffusion-Cooled Hot Electron Bolometeric (DHEB) mixers from a bilayer thin film of gold/Nb forms the HEB device. The first generation of devices with lateral dimensions of 100 nm by 80 nm were fabricated at the feed of a broadband spiral antenna designed for frequency response up to 20 Thz. Harmonic multiplier sources becoming available within the next few years should have sufficient power to provide a local-oscillator source for small-format, quasi-optically coupled arrays of these mixers. First generation devices measured at our laboratory have demonstrated a critical temperature (Tc) of 4.8 K with a 0.5 K transition width. These DHEB mixers are expected to have an optimum operational temperature of 1.8-2.0 K. The current four element array mixer block will ultimately be replaced by a dual polarization slot-ring array configuration with up to eight elements.

Proceedings Title

Proc., Intl Symp. on Space Terahertz Tech.

Conference Dates

February 12-16, 2001

Conference Location

San Diego, CA, USA

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

heterodyne focal plane arrays, hot electron bolometric, mixers, spectrocopy, terahertz

Citation

Gerecht, E. , Reintsema, C. , Grossman, E. , Betz, A. and Boreiko, R. (2001), Superconducting Nb DHEB Mixer Arrays for Far-Infrared Spectroscopy, Proc., Intl Symp. on Space Terahertz Tech., San Diego, CA, USA (Accessed October 26, 2025)