Scalable Terahertz-Frequency HEB Mixers

摘要

We are developing low noise waveguide-based heterodyne mixer employing a superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) operating around 2.7 THz. The mixer is an NbN nano-bridge integrated with a gold bowtie planar antenna on an ultra-thin silicon substrate of 3 μm thickness. To produce the waveguide embedding circuit for use at such a high frequency, we adopted an original approach combining UV-lithography and micro-plating techniques. The concept was successfully tested at a lower frequency (1.46 THz) where a low noise temperature is achieved. At 2.74 THz, we measured a minimum uncorrected DSB receiver noise temperature of 965 K.