A terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a quantum cascade laser and a superconducting bolometer.

Journal Article · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 2005 · Proposed for publication in Applied Physics Letters.

OSTI ID:948263

Klaassen, T O ^[1]; Hajenius, M ^[1]; Adam, A J. L. ^[1]; Klapwijk, T M ^[1]; Baryshev, A ^[2]; Kumar, Sushil ^[3]; Baselmans, J J. A. ^[2]; Hu, Qing ^[3]; Yang, Z Q ^[2]; Hovenier, J N ^[1]; Williams, Benjamin S ^[3]; Gao, J R ^[1]; Reno, John Louis

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1. Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg, Delft, The Netherlands
2. SRON National Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

We report the first demonstration of an all solid-state heterodyne receiver that can be used for high-resolution spectroscopy above 2 THz suitable for space-based observatories. The receiver uses a NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer as mixer and a quantum cascade laser operating at 2.8 THz as local oscillator. We measure a double sideband receiver noise temperature of 1400 K at 2.8 THz and 4.2 K, and find that the free-running QCL has sufficient power stability for a practical receiver, demonstrating an unprecedented combination of sensitivity and stability.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 948263
• Report Number(s): SAND2005-1520J
• Journal Information: Proposed for publication in Applied Physics Letters., Journal Name: Proposed for publication in Applied Physics Letters.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
BOLOMETERS
DESIGN
HETERODYNE RECEIVERS
LASERS
PERFORMANCE
SENSITIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
THZ RANGE 01-100