1.8-THz superconductive hot-electron bolometer mixer for Herschel

Jonathan Kawamura; Bruce Bumble; Dennis G. Harding; William R. McGrath; Paolo Focardi; Rick LeDuc

doi:10.1117/12.459367

17 February 2003 1.8 THz superconductive hot-electron bolometer mixer for Herschel

Jonathan Kawamura, Bruce Bumble, Dennis G. Harding, William R. McGrath, Paolo Focardi, Rick LeDuc

Proceedings Volume 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459367
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

We are developing terahertz mixers to cover the highest frequency band ("6H") for the heterodyne instrument (HIFI) aboard the Herschel Space Observatory. The mixer will be optimized for operation at 1.8 THz, with an input bandwidth of at least 0.2 THz. Some of the key spectroscopic lines in this frequency band are the fine-structure transition of ionized carbon at 1.9 THz, and numerous rotational transitions of water vapor and other hydrides. The mixers will employ a superconductive hot-electron bolometer as the mixing element, for which we will use a diffusion-cooled niobium microbridge. This variant allows an IF bandwidth that meets the range required for HIFI's 4-8 GHz IF. The mixer will be operated at ~2 K bath temperature. The sensitivity requirement is a double sideband mixer noise temperature of T_mix / ν ~ 1,000 K / THz , which has been previously demonstrated with this type of mixer. The mixer is a quasioptical design, employing a twin-slot planar antenna mounted on the backside of an elliptical silicon lens. Initial measurements indicate that that these mixers can be adequately pumped with a solid-state 1.5 THz local-oscillator source. HEB mixers are extremely delicate and susceptible to environmental damage; we have therefore focused a good deal of attention to engineering a rugged, flyable mixer.

Citation Download Citation

Jonathan Kawamura, Bruce Bumble, Dennis G. Harding, William R. McGrath, Paolo Focardi, and Rick LeDuc "1.8 THz superconductive hot-electron bolometer mixer for Herschel", Proc. SPIE 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy, (17 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459367

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available