Abstract
A 1.5 THz superconducting receiver has been in operation at the Receiver Lab Telescope of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Northern Chile since December 2004. This receiver incorporates a Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixer chip made from a thin film of Niobium Titanium Nitride (NbTiN), which is mounted in a precision-machined waveguide mixer block attached to a corrugated waveguide horn assembly. With a noise temperature of around 1500 K, this receiver is sensitive enough for use in the pioneering field of ground-based terahertz spectral-line astronomy. A number of innovative techniques have been employed in the construction and deployment of this receiver. These include near-field vector beam mapping to enable accurate coupling to the telescope optics, the use of tunerless planar-diode based local oscillator unit capable of generating a few μW at 1.5 THz, and special calibration techniques required for terahertz astronomy. In this paper, we will report on the design, set-up and operation of this state-of-the-art instrument.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems - Boston, MA, United States Duration: Oct 2 2006 → Oct 4 2006 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
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Volume | 6373 |
ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
Other
Other | Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems |
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Country | United States |
City | Boston, MA |
Period | 10/2/06 → 10/4/06 |
Keywords
- Hot Electron Bolometer mixer
- Terahertz astronomy
- Terahertz receiver
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering