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Hot electron bolometer heterodyne receiver with a 4.7-THz quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator

Kloosterman, J.L. (author), Hayton, D.J. (author), Ren, Y. (author), Kao, T.Y. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Walker, C.K. (author), Reno, J.L. (author)

We report on a heterodyne receiver designed to observe the astrophysically important neutral atomic oxygen [OI] line at 4.7448?THz. The local oscillator is a third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser operating in continuous wave mode at 4.741?THz. A quasi-optical, superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer is used as the mixer. We...

journal article 2013

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Frequency and amplitude stabilized terahertz quantum cascade laser as local oscillator

Ren, Y. (author), Hayton, D.J. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Cui, M. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Shi, S.C. (author), Kao, T.Y. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Reno, J.L. (author)

We demonstrate an experimental scheme to simultaneously stabilize the frequency and amplitude of a 3.5 THz third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator. The frequency stabilization has been realized using a methanol absorption line, a power detector, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) loop. The amplitude...

journal article 2012

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Frequency locking of single-mode 3.5-THz quantum cascade lasers using a gas cell

Ren, Y. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Cui, M. (author), Hayton, D.J. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Shi, S.C. (author), Kao, T.Y. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Reno, J.L. (author)

We report frequency locking of two 3.5-THz third-order distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by using methanol molecular absorption lines, a proportional-integral-derivative controller, and a NbN bolometer. We show that the free-running linewidths of the QCLs are dependent on the electrical and temperature tuning coefficients....

journal article 2012

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High-resolution heterodyne spectroscopy using a tunable quantum cascade laser around 3.5 THz

Ren, Y. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Higgins, R. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Shi, S.C. (author), Klein, B. (author), Kao, T.Y. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Reno, J.L. (author)

A frequency tunable terahertz heterodyne spectrometer, based on a third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator, has been demonstrated by measuring molecular spectral lines of methanol (CH3OH) gas at 3.5 THz. By varying the bias voltage of the laser, we achieved a tuning range of ? 1?GHz of the lasing frequency,...

journal article 2011

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Noise temperature and beam pattern of an NbN hot electron bolometer mixer at 5.25 THz

Zhang, W. (author), Khosropanah, P. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Bansal, T. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Miao, W. (author), Shi, S.C. (author)

We report the measured sensitivities of a superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) heterodyne receiver at 5.25 THz. Terahertz (THz) radiation is quasioptically coupled to a HEB mixer with a lens and a spiral antenna. Using a measurement setup with black body calibration sources and a beam splitter in vacuo, and an antireflection coated...

journal article 2010

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Terahertz heterodyne spectrometer using a quantum cascade laser

Ren, Y. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Higgins, R. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Shi, S.C. (author), Bell, A. (author), Klein, B. (author), Williams, B.S. (author), Kumar, S. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Reno, J.L. (author)

A terahertz (THz) heterodyne spectrometer is demonstrated based on a quantum cascade laser (QCL) as a local oscillator (LO) and an NbN hot electron bolometer as a mixer, and it is used to measure high-resolution molecular spectral lines of methanol (CH3OH) between 2.913–2.918 THz. The spectral lines are taken from a gas cell containing methanol...

journal article 2010

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Quantum noise in a terahertz hot electron bolometer mixer

Zhang, W. (author), Khosropanah, P. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Kollberg, E.L. (author), Yngvesson, K.S. (author), Bansal, T. (author), Barends, R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

We have measured the noise temperature of a single, sensitive superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer in a frequency range from 1.6 to 5.3 THz, using a setup with all the key components in vacuum. By analyzing the measured receiver noise temperature using a quantum noise (QN) model for HEB mixers, we confirm the effect of QN. The...

journal article 2010

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Phase locking of a 2.7 THz quantum cascade laser to a microwave reference

Khosropanah, P. (author), Baryshev, A. (author), Zhang, W. (author), Jellema, W. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Paveliev, D.G. (author), Williams, B.S. (author), Kumar, S. (author), Hu, Q. (author), Reno, J.L. (author), Klein, B. (author), Hesler, J.L. (author)

We demonstrate the phase locking of a 2.7 THz metal–metal waveguide quantum cascade laser (QCL) to an external microwave signal. The reference is the 15th harmonic, generated by a semiconductor superlattice nonlinear device, of a signal at 182 GHz, which itself is generated by a multiplier chain (x12) from a microwave synthesizer at ~15 GHz....

journal article 2009

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Noise in NbTiN, Al, and Ta Superconducting Resonators on Silicon and Sapphire Substrates

Barends, R. (author), Hortensius, H.L. (author), Zijlstra, T. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Yates, S.J.C. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

We present measurements of the frequency noise and resonance frequency temperature dependence in planar superconducting resonators on both silicon and sapphire substrates. We show, by covering the resonators with sputtered SiOx layers of different thicknesses, that the temperature dependence of the resonance frequency scales linearly with...

journal article 2009

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Enhancement of quasiparticle recombination in Ta and Al superconductors by implantation of magnetic and nonmagnetic atoms

Barends, R. (author), Van Vliet, S. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Yates, S.J.C. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

The quasiparticle recombination time in superconducting films, consisting of the standard electron-phonon interaction and a yet to be identified low-temperature process, is studied for different densities of magnetic and nonmagnetic atoms. For both Ta and Al, implanted with Mn, Ta, and Al, we observe an increase in the recombination rate. We...

journal article 2009

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3.4 THz heterodyne receiver using a hot electron bolometer and a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser

Khosropanah, P. (author), Zhang, W. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Amanti, M.I. (author), Scalari, G. (author), Faist, J. (author)

We report a heterodyne receiver using a superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) integrated with a tight winding spiral antenna as mixer and a distributed feedback (DFB) terahertz quantum cascade laser (QCL) operating at 3.42 THz as local oscillator. The aim is to demonstrate the readiness of both devices for the detection of OH lines at...

journal article 2008

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Quasiparticle Relaxation in Optically Excited High-Q Superconducting Resonators

Barends, R. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Yates, S.J.C. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

The quasiparticle relaxation time in superconducting films has been measured as a function of temperature using the response of the complex conductivity to photon flux. For tantalum and aluminum, chosen for their difference in electron-phonon coupling strength, we find that at high temperatures the relaxation time increases with decreasing...

journal article 2008

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Contribution of dielectrics to frequency and noise of NbTiN superconducting resonators

Barends, R. (author), Hortensius, H.L. (author), Zijlstra, T. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Yates, S.J.C. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

We study NbTiN resonators by measurements of the temperature dependent resonance frequency and frequency noise. Additionally, resonators are studied covered with SiOx dielectric layers of various thicknesses. The resonance frequency develops a nonmonotonic temperature dependence with increasing SiOx layer thickness. The increase in the noise is...

journal article 2008

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Surface plasmon quantum cascade lasers as terahertz local oscillators

Hajenius, M. (author), Khosropanah, P. (author), Hovenier, J.N. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Barbieri, S. (author), Dhillon, S. (author), Filloux, P. (author), Sirtori, C. (author), Ritchie, D.A. (author), Beere, H.E. (author)

We characterize a heterodyne receiver based on a surface-plasmon waveguide quantum cascade laser (QCL) emitting at 2.84 THz as a local oscillator, and an NbN hot electron bolometer as a mixer. We find that the envelope of the far-field pattern of the QCL is diffraction-limited and superimposed onto interference fringes, which are similar to...

journal article 2008

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Low noise NbN hot electron bolometer mixer at 4.3?THz

Khosropanah, P. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Laauwen, W.M. (author), Hajenius, M. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author)

We have studied the sensitivity of a superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer mixer integrated with a spiral antenna at 4.3?THz. Using hot/cold blackbody loads and a beam splitter all in vacuum, we measured a double sideband receiver noise temperature of 1300?K at the optimum local oscillator (LO) power of 330?nW, which is about 12 times the...

journal article 2007

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Monocrystalline NbN nanofilms on a 3C-SiC/Si substrate

Gao, J.R. (author), Hajenius, M. (author), Tichelaar, F.D. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Voronov, B. (author), Grishin, E. (author), Gol'tsman, G. (author), Zorman, C.A. (author), Mehregany, M. (author)

The authors have realized NbN (100) nanofilms on a 3C-SiC (100)/Si(100) substrate by dc reactive magnetron sputtering at 800?°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is used to characterize the films, showing a monocrystalline structure and confirming epitaxial growth on the 3C-SiC layer. A film ranging in thickness from 3.4...

journal article 2007

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IF impedance and mixer gain of NbN hot electron bolometers

Kooi, J.W. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Hajenius, M. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Dieleman, P. (author), Baryshev, A. (author), De Lange, G. (author)

The intermediate frequency (IF) characteristics, the frequency dependent IF impedance, and the mixer conversion gain of a small area hot electron bolometer (HEB) have been measured and modeled. The device used is a twin slot antenna coupled NbN HEB mixer with a bridge area of 1×0.15??m2, and a critical temperature of 8.3?K. In the experiment the...

journal article 2007

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Influence of the direct response on the heterodyne sensitivity of hot electron bolometer mixers

Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Baryshev, A. (author), Reker, S.F. (author), Hajenius, M. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Voronov, B. (author), Gol'tsman, G. (author)

We present a detailed experimental study of the direct detection effect in a small volume (0.15??m×1??m×3.5?nm) quasioptical NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometer mixer at 673?GHz. We find that the small signal noise temperature, relevant for an astronomical observation, is 20% lower than the noise temperature obtained using 300 and 77?K...

journal article 2006

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Full characterization and analysis of a terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a NbN hot electron bolometer

Hajenius, M. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Baryshev, A. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Kooi, J.W. (author), Jellema, W. (author), Yang, Z.Q. (author)

We present a complete experimental characterization of a quasioptical twin-slot antenna coupled small area (1.0×0.15??m2) NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer compatible with currently available solid state tunable local oscillator (LO) sources. The required LO power absorbed in the HEB is analyzed in detail and equals only 25?nW. Due to the...

journal article 2006

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Stability of heterodyne terahertz receivers

Kooi, J.W. (author), Baselmans, J.J.A. (author), Baryshev, A. (author), Schieder, R. (author), Hajenius, M. (author), Gao, J.R. (author), Klapwijk, T.M. (author), Voronov, B. (author), Gol'tsman, G. (author)

In this paper we discuss the stability of heterodyne terahertz receivers based on small volume NbN phonon cooled hot electron bolometers (HEBs). The stability of these receivers can be broken down in two parts: the intrinsic stability of the HEB mixer and the stability of the local oscillator (LO) signal injection scheme. Measurements show that...

journal article 2006