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2005•Applied Physics LettersOpen access

Terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a quantum cascade laser and a superconducting bolometer

J. R. Gao, J. N. Hovenier, Zhenyu Yang, J. J. A. Baselmans, A. Baryshev, M. Hajenius, T. M. Klapwijk, A. J. L. Adam, T.O. Klaassen, Benjamin S. Williams, Sushil Kumar, Q. Hu, John L. Reno

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Abstract

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

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

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Available abstract

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

Key concepts: Bolometer, Superheterodyne receiver, Local oscillator, Quantum cascade laser, Sideband, Terahertz radiation, Heterodyne (poetry), Optoelectronics

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