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) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
| Volume | 6373 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems - Boston, MA, United States Duration: Oct 2 2006 → Oct 4 2006 |
Other
| Other | Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Boston, MA |
| Period | 10/2/06 → 10/4/06 |
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Keywords
- Hot Electron Bolometer mixer
- Terahertz astronomy
- Terahertz receiver
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Condensed Matter Physics
Cite this
A 1.5 THz hot electron bolometer receiver for ground-based Terahertz astronomy in Northern Chile. / Tong, C. Y Edward; Kawamura, Jonathan; Marrone, Daniel P; Loudkov, Denis; Paine, Scott; Blundell, Raymond; Barrientos, Claudio; Lühr, Daniel.
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Vol. 6373 2006. 63730U.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - A 1.5 THz hot electron bolometer receiver for ground-based Terahertz astronomy in Northern Chile
AU - Tong, C. Y Edward
AU - Kawamura, Jonathan
AU - Marrone, Daniel P
AU - Loudkov, Denis
AU - Paine, Scott
AU - Blundell, Raymond
AU - Barrientos, Claudio
AU - Lühr, Daniel
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Hot Electron Bolometer mixer
KW - Terahertz astronomy
KW - Terahertz receiver
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846218650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33846218650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.686058
DO - 10.1117/12.686058
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:33846218650
SN - 0819464716
SN - 9780819464712
VL - 6373
BT - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
ER -