Quantum noise in a terahertz hot electron bolometer mixer
Journal article, 2010
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 QN is found to be responsible for about half of the receiver noise at the highest frequency in our measurements. The beta-factor (the quantum efficiency of the HEB) obtained experimentally agrees reasonably well with the calculated value.
millimetre wave mixers
bolometers
quantum noise
Author
W. Zhang
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Pourya Khosropanah
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)
J. R. Gao
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)
Delft University of Technology
Erik Kollberg
Chalmers, Applied Physics, Physical Electronics
K. S. Yngvesson
University of Massachusetts
T. Bansal
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)
Delft University of Technology
R. Barends
Delft University of Technology
T. M. Klapwijk
Delft University of Technology
Applied Physics Letters
0003-6951 (ISSN) 1077-3118 (eISSN)
Vol. 96 11 111113 - 111113Subject Categories
Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
DOI
10.1063/1.3364936