Faouzi Boussaha

A Low Noise 2.7 THz Waveguide-Based Superconducting Mixer

We report on a low noise waveguide-based heterodyne mixer utilizing a superconductiang NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) operating near 2.7 THz. The mixer is an NbN nano-bridge integrated with a gold bowtie planar antenna on an ultra-thin silicon substrate of ~ 2-3 μm thickness. To produce the waveguide embedding circuit for use at such a high frequency, we adopted a novel approach combining UV-lithography and micro-plating techniques. The mixer response agreed precisely with model predictions, and we measured a minimum uncorrected DSB receiver noise temperature of 965 K at an LO frequency of 2.74 THz.

A 30% bandwidth tunerless SIS mixer of quantum-limited sensitivity for Herschel / HIFI Band 1

We report on the status of the development of a 30% bandwidth tunerless SIS double-sideband mixer for the “Band 1” (480 GHz-630 GHz) channel of the heterodyne instrument (HIFI) of ESA’s Herschel Space Observatory, scheduled for launch in 2007. After exposing the main features of our mixer design, we present the performance achieved by the demonstration mixer, measured via Fourier Transform Spectroscopy and heterodyne Y factor calibrations. We infer from a preliminary mixer analysis that the mixer has very low, quantum-limited noise and low conversion loss. We also report on some pre-qualification tests, as we currently start to manufacture the qualification models and design the last iteration of masks for SIS junction production.

Fluxon modes and phase-locking at 600 GHz in superconducting tunnel junction nonuniform arrays

We investigated parallel arrays of superconducting Nb/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions nonevenly distributed in a superconducting Nb/SiO/Nb microstrip transmission line. Such devices are discretized Josephson transmission lines (DJTLs) in which, from theory, magnetic flux quanta (“fluxons”) can travel as solitonic waves when a dc current bias and a dc magnetic field are applied. We observed a reproducible series of resonant branches in each device’s I−V curve, at Josephson submillimeter-wave frequencies (from 240 to 720 GHz) matching the resonances predicted using a transmission line analysis, where the loading of the N=5 junctions is fully taken into account. The nonperiodic distribution was optimized to provide rf matching over a large bandwidth (450–650 GHz typically), implying that the plasma resonance of junctions is inductively tuned out over a similar band by the array. A confirmation of this comes from the observation, at frequencies higher than the untuned junctions plasma frequency, of several Josephson...

Interference filter properties of nonuniform Josephson junction arrays

We experimentally and numerically study the zero-voltage supercurrent versus magnetic field of nonuniform arrays of Josephson junctions parallel-connected by a superconducting stripline. The measured curves are complex, geometry-dependent, and in excellent agreement with numerical simulations using a specially developed model. Such arrays can be optimized to have specific interference patterns, suited for applications in magnetometery, quasiparticle microwave sensors, Josephson oscillators, and superconducting electronics.

Fundamental and harmonic submillimeter-wave emission from parallel Josephson junction arrays

We report heterodyne measurements of Josephson microwave radiation emitted by a parallel array of small superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junctions at submillimeter-wave frequencies. The array consists of five Nb/Al–AlOx/Nb junctions nonevenly distributed in a niobium superconducting stripline, and is optimized for rf coupling in the 450–640 GHz range. We observed Fiske-like resonant steps in its I-V curve in the presence of magnetic field. The device was placed in a waveguide mount, and its radiation was quasioptically coupled out of the cryostat, to a SIS-mixer spectrometer in the same frequency range, with a 4–8 GHz band for spectral analysis. We detected a coherent signal in the spectra when the array was biased on the first and third steps, respectively, at the first harmonic frequency of 242 GHz and at the fundamental frequency of 493 GHz, both being the Josephson frequencies associated with their dc voltages. This strongly suggests that this type of parallel arrays optimized for wideban...

Terahertz-frequency waveguide HEB mixers for spectral line astronomy

We report on the development of waveguide-based mixers for operation beyond 2 THz. The mixer element is a superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Because it is beyond the capability of conventional machining techniques to produce the fine structures required for the waveguide embedding circuit for use at such high frequencies, we employ two lithography-based approaches to produce the waveguide circuit: a metallic micro-plating process akin to 3-D printing and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) silicon micromachining. Various mixer configurations have been successfully produced using these approaches. A single-ended mixer produced by the metal plating technique has been demonstrated with a receiver noise temperature of 970 K (DSB) at a localoscillator frequency of 2.74 THz. A similar mixer, produced using a silicon-based micro-machining technique, has a noise temperature of 2000 K (DSB) at 2.56 THz. In another example, we have successfully produced a waveguide RF hybrid for operation at 2.74 THz. This is a key component in a balanced mixer, a configuration that efficiently utilizes local oscillator power, which is scarce at these frequencies. In addition to allowing us to extend the frequency of operation of waveguide-based receivers beyond 2 THz, these technologies we employ here are amenable to the production of large array receivers, where numerous copies of the same circuit, precisely the same and aligned to each other, are required.

Submillimeter mixers based on superconductive parallel junction arrays

Observation and analysis of submillimeter-wave radiation (300GHz-3THz) in astronomy and atmospheric sciences requires increasingly performant receivers. The most sensitive receivers working in this range of electromagnetic spectrum use superconductor-insolator-superconductor (SIS) junctions. In order to increase the bandwidth and the sensitivity, we are developing a quantum-noise limited heterodyne receiver based on several parallel SIS junctions with broad (larger than 30%) fixed tuned bandwidth. These circuits can be viewed as passband filters which have been optimized by varying the spacings between junctions. We have designed such 5-junction arrays for operation in the range 480-640 GHz. Fabrication and heterodyne characterization of these devices has been done. The 1 μm2 junctions current density ranges from 4 to 13 kA/cm2, using optical lithography and Nb/Al2Nb5/Nb trilayer sputtering technology. The fabrication process and yield are presented in this paper, along with measured performances

Tunable THz source using superconducting tunnel junctions

We report on tunable submillimeter-wave radiation sources based on micrometer-sized superconducting tunnel junction arrays optimized within a bandwidth of 350-520 GHz. The arrays consist of 10, 20 and 40 Superconductor-Insulator- Superconductor (SIS) parallel-connected Nb/AlOx/Nb junctions embedded in superconducting microstrip lines. A SIS twin-junction is integrated along with each array to detect output signals. The pumped detector’s I-V characteristic exhibits clearly photon-assisted quasiparticule steps when the arrays are biased upon corresponding Josephson resonances ranging from 370 to 520 GHz.