Superconducting terahertz mixer using a transition-edge microbolometer

Applied Physics Letters - Tập 62 Số 17 - Trang 2119-2121 - 1993
D. E. Prober1
1Department of Applied Physics and Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-2157

Tóm tắt

We present a new device concept for a mixer element for THz frequencies. This uses a superconducting transition-edge microbridge biased at the center of its superconducting transition near 4.2 K. It is fed from an antenna or waveguide structure. Power from a local oscillator and a rf signal produce a temperature and resulting resistance variation at the difference frequency. The new aspect is the use of a very short bridge in which rapid (<0.1 ns) outdiffusion of hot electrons occurs. This gives large intermediate frequency (if) response. The mixer offers ≊4 GHz if bandwidth, ≊80 Ω rf resistive impedance, good match to the if amplifier, and requires only 1–20 nW of local oscillator power. The upper rf frequency is determined by antenna or waveguide properties. Predicted mixer conversion efficiency is 1/8, and predicted double-sideband receiver noise temperatures are 260 and 90 K for transition widths of 0.1 and 0.5 Tc, respectively.

Từ khóa


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Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Applied Physics Letters

Tập 62 Số 17

2119-2121

Thông tin tác giả