2D array of cold-electron nanobolometers with double polarised cross-dipole antennas
Journal article, 2012

A novel concept of the two-dimensional (2D) array of cold-electron nanobolometers (CEB) with double polarised cross-dipole antennas is proposed for ultrasensitive multimode measurements. This concept provides a unique opportunity to simultaneously measure both components of an RF signal and to avoid complicated combinations of two schemes for each polarisation. The optimal concept of the CEB includes a superconductor-insulator-normal tunnel junction and an SN Andreev contact, which provides better performance. This concept allows for better matching with the junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) readout, suppresses charging noise related to the Coulomb blockade due to the small area of tunnel junctions and decreases the volume of a normal absorber for further improvement of the noise performance. The reliability of a 2D array is considerably increased due to the parallel and series connections of many CEBs. Estimations of the CEB noise with JFET readout give an opportunity to realise a noise equivalent power (NEP) that is less than photon noise, specifically, NEP = 4 10−19 W/Hz1/2 at 7 THz for an optical power load of 0.02 fW.

2D array

Cold-electron bolometer

JFET readout

SIN tunnel junction

85.25.Oj

85.25.Pb

Andreev contact

74.50. + r

Focal plane antenna

Author

Leonid Kuzmin

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Nanoscale Research Letters

1931-7573 (ISSN) 1556-276X (eISSN)

Vol. 7 224

Subject Categories

Physical Sciences

DOI

10.1186/1556-276X-7-224

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