超高灵敏度太赫兹超导探测技术发展

太赫兹波段占有宇宙微波背景(CMB)辐射以后宇宙空间近一半的光子能量,该波段在天文学研究中具有不可替代的作用,因此太赫兹天文学的研究,具有极其重要的科学意义。本文系统介绍了基于超高灵敏度太赫兹超导探测技术的太赫兹相干探测器发展状况,包括超导隧道结混频器(SIS)和超导热电子混频器(HEB),以及以超导动态电感探测器(MKIDs)和超导相变边缘探测器(TES)为代表的非相干探测器的研究。在此基础上,展望了该领域未来发展趋势,对我国太赫兹天文探测技术的发展具有一定的参考意义。     

日本科学家研制出太赫兹探测器

检测太赫兹（THz）辐射是一件非常麻烦的事。太赫兹波适用于各种成像应用，因为太赫兹波与许多材料都不会发生强烈的相互作用。但是，如果太赫兹波不被吸收，将不会被检测到。日本的研究人员演示了一种直接检测超导隧道结的太赫兹探测器。其灵敏度高、波段宽，可缩放到任何的阵列规格。     

超导探测器与太赫兹天文应用

太赫兹频段(0.1—10 THz)占有宇宙空间近一半的光子能量，特别适合观测早期遥远天体、正在形成冷暗天体，以及被尘埃遮掩天体，且具有非常丰富的分子、原子及离子谱线，是其他频段不可替代的宇宙观测窗口。近四十年来，低温超导探测器技术得到快速发展，在天文学领域率先实现应用并取得系列有显著影响的研究成果，如黑洞成像、原行星盘精细结构观测以及近邻宇宙水分子刻画和宇宙最先诞生的电离氢化氦离子探测等。文章将主要介绍4种国际主流太赫兹超导探测器(即超导隧道结(SIS)混频器、超导热电子(HEB)混频器、超导相变边缘(TES)探测器和超导动态电感(KID)探测器)的研究进展、应用突破和未来发展趋势。     

THz谐振腔型石墨烯光电探测器的设计

由于石墨烯在太赫兹波范围内只发生带内跃迁,相比在可见光范围内,其光学吸收特性有显著优势,通过集成石墨烯与谐振腔,将太赫兹波限制在腔内,可进一步增强石墨烯对太赫兹波的吸收.采用麦克斯韦方程组并结合电磁场边界条件,研究了单层石墨烯在太赫兹波段范围内的光吸收机理;推导出石墨烯的传输矩阵和吸收系数方程,发现在太赫兹波段石墨烯的吸收是在可见光波段吸收的9—22倍;通过建立谐振腔型石墨烯光电探测器在太赫兹波段的光吸收模型及求解探测器吸收率方程,发现在0.12 THz处,吸收率可达0.965,相比无腔状态下石墨烯在太赫兹波段的最大吸收率0.5,提高了93%;优化设计器件结构参数并表征,最终器件响应度最高达到236.7 A/W,半高全宽为0.035 THz.理论分析表明,采用谐振腔型石墨烯光电探测器对太赫兹波进行探测,具有高吸收率、高响应度.研究结果对于太赫兹谐振腔型石墨烯光电探测器的设计和应用提供了理论参考.     

一种太赫兹探测器绝对光谱响应度测量方法研究

绝对光谱响应度是探测器的重要技术参数之一，随着太赫兹探测技术的发展，精确测量太赫兹探测器的绝对光谱响应度变得越来越重要。由于在太赫兹波段缺乏连续可调谐的太赫兹光源以及分光系统，因此无法采用传统测量红外探测器绝对光谱响应度的方法来实现对太赫兹探测器绝对光谱响应度的测量。基于反射法测量了2～10 THz相对光谱响应度，通过CO₂泵浦气体激光器作为泵浦光源测量了2.52和4.25 THz绝对响应度，转化得到2～10 THz探测器的绝对光谱响应度，并且对2.52和4.25 THz绝对响应率和相对光谱响应度这两个频率点进行了相互验证，2.52和4.25 THz绝对响应度测量值之比为0.753,相对光谱响应度测量平均值之比为0.749,两者之差仅为0.004,因此，说明本文采用的反射法测量太赫兹探测器相对光谱响应度的方法是可行的。另外水汽在太赫兹波段的测试有很大的影响，对1.5～10 THz波段大气的衰减特性进行了测试，试验表明水汽对太赫兹波有明显的衰减作用，在不同环境湿度下测量时会产生不同的结果，因此在太赫兹探测器测量过程中需要严格的控制大气的湿度，从测试数据可得到，大气中...     

基于太赫兹量子阱探测器的太赫兹量子级联激光器发射谱研究

采用一个光谱匹配的太赫兹(THz)量子阱探测器(QWP)研究了一激射频率约为41 THz的THz量子级联激光器(QCL)在不同驱动电流下的发射谱,分析了测量得到的发射谱谱型和谱峰位置,根据测量的发射谱估算了太赫兹量子级联激光器发射功率随驱动电流变化的情况,从而得到了THz QCL激射的电流密度范围及其阈值电流密度.文中还研究了THz QWP在不同温度下对THz QCL 激光辐射的响应特性.研究结果表明,THz QWP在表征THz QCL的发射谱方面是一种很好的探测器,并有望成为未来THz通信中的接收装置. 关键词： 太赫兹量子阱探测器 太赫兹量子级联激光器 太赫兹通信 Fourier变换红外光谱     

磷化镓高功率太赫兹共线差频源的研究

在众多实现太赫兹辐射的方法中, 非线性光学共线差频能够实现高功率、宽波段、连续可调谐的太赫兹波辐射. 理论分析表明, 各向同性磷化镓晶体, 在1064 nm附近波长激光共线差频下具有毫米量级的相干长度, 能够满足高功率宽波段的太赫兹辐射条件.实验证明, 磷化镓晶体共线差频实现高功率宽波段的太赫兹光辐射, 其太赫兹光波长调谐范围为95.9–773.4 μm (0.39–3.13 THz), 最高峰值功率7 W位于频率2.0 THz处.该实验结果与理论计算基本保持一致. 关键词： 太赫兹源 磷化镓 共线差频     

光伏型太赫兹量子阱探测器研究进展

光伏型太赫兹量子阱探测器(PV-THzQWIP)是光伏型量子阱光电探测器(PV-QWIP)在THz波段的扩展,它具有功耗低、暗电流小、噪声水平低以及焦平面阵列(FPAs)热分辨率高等优点,是THz频段技术应用的重要器件之一.文章主要介绍了PV-THzQWIP的工作原理、特点、理论设计及其研究进展.     

外差式相干探测时域光谱仪对磷化铟（InP）晶片的超宽频带太赫兹光谱的探测

磷化铟（InP）属于Ⅲ-Ⅴ族化合物半导体材料, 在毫米波的应用中展示出了高性能,在非线性太赫兹器件应用上具有很大的潜力。以前关于InP的研究主要集中于太赫兹频率在0.1～4 THz的频率范围内,在4～10 THz频率范围内InP的太赫兹光学数据还是空白。该研究利用空气等离子体相干探测太赫兹波的时域光谱系统研究了无掺杂的InP晶片在超宽THz频率范围（0.5～18 THz）内的光学特性, 实验中用电离的空气作为太赫兹的发射器和探测器, 利用可以调制的局部偏压诱导二次谐波产生,使在气体中太赫兹波的相干探测成为可能,明显提高了系统的动态范围和灵敏度。产生的太赫兹频谱宽度主要被激光脉冲持续时间所限制,太赫兹脉冲通过InP晶片后相对于参考脉冲会延迟,同时振幅会降低。另外,太赫兹信号的频谱振幅在6.7～12.1 THz范围内下降到本底噪声。同时还可以看出InP晶片在6.7～12.1 THz频率范围内不透光,在0.8～6.7 THz以及12.1～18 THz频率范围内InP的吸收系数相对较低,特别是在15～17.5 THz范围内吸收系数很低并且保持相对稳定,与此同时它的折射率单调增加。这些发现将有助于基于InP晶片的非线性太赫兹器件设计。     

0.14THz高功率太赫兹脉冲的频率测量

提出了采用截止波导法与谐波混频法相结合的方式,进行0.14THz高功率短脉冲的频率测量.首先将两个截止频率分别为0.125和0.15THz的非标准矩形波导作为接收端,通过截止波导滤波法获得了太赫兹辐射源的频率范围.然后根据已知的频率范围,将本振频率选择为15—20GHz,则谐波混频的谐波次数确定为8.随后的Ka波段的脉冲测试和0.14THz连续波测试表明,该8次谐波混频器可用于0.14THz脉冲的混频测量.最后,0.14THz脉冲频率测量实验给出了太赫兹辐射源的准确频率为0.1465THz.该方法大大降低了对本振信号的频率要求,且结果准确可信,为长波段太赫兹脉冲的频率测量提供了一种新的思路.     

Concept of a mixer based on a cold-electron bolometer

A phase-sensitive terahertz heterodyne mixer of a new type based on a cold-electron bolometer is proposed. In this mixer, a normal-metal thin-film absorber is connected to a planar antenna via superconductor-insulator-normal metal (SIN) tunnel junctions, thus forming a SINIS structure. The SINIS mixer combines the advantages of a hot-electron bolometer (HEB), such as a high signal frequency at a small local oscillator power, with the advantages of an SIS mixer, including low noise level, a high intermediate frequency, and wide working temperature range (up to a critical temperature of the superconductor). In contrast to the HEB and SIS mixers, the proposed device is less sensitive to external magnetic noise and exhibits no additional noise related to the superconducting transition and the Josephson effect.     

The Application of Superconducting Tunnel Junction Detectors to Astronomy

Detectors based on the superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) junction long ago surpassed Schottky-diode semiconductor detectors as the most sensitive heterodyne mixers in the millimeter and submillimeter (far-infrared) wavelength range. Other novel superconducting device configurations have been applied as direct detectors. Though still in the early stages of development, and yet to find widespread application, they have demonstrated advantages over traditional semiconductor detectors in specialized situations. Exciting progress has been made in recent years in developing the superconducting tunnel junctions (STJ) as a photon detector for optical and near-optical wavelengths, where silicon CCD's are currently dominant. I examine some of the areas in which the properties of STJ detectors may best match the instrument capabilities that astronomical observations require, and discuss the implications of the intrinsic spectral resolution of the STJ. This capability will enable a significant increase in observing efficiency, once the technology matures, that should justify increased complexity of cryogenic systems, particularly for instruments to be used on the next generation of large ground-based telescopes.     

Terahertz Direct Detectors Based on Superconducting Hot Electron Bolometers with Microwave Biasing

Terahertz(THz) direct detectors based on superconducting niobium nitride(NbN) hot electron bolometers(HEBs) with microwave(MW) biasing are studied. The MW is used to bias the HEB to the optimum point and to readout the impedance changes caused by the incident THz signals. Compared with the thermal biasing method, this method would be more promising in large scale array with simple readout. The used NbN HEB has an excellent performance as heterodyne detector with the double sideband noise temperature(T_N) of 403 K working at 4.2 K and 0.65 THz. As a result, the noise equivalent power of 1.5 pW/Hz~(1/2) and the response time of 64 ps are obtained for the direct detectors based on the NbN HEBs and working at 4.2 K and 0.65 THz.     

Terahertz Superconducting Hot-Electron Bolometer Mixers and Their Application in Radio Astronomy

We review the latest developments, research, and radioastronomy applications of hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers operated in the terahertz waveband. The physical principles of operation of terahertz HEB mixers are presented, their manufacturing from ultrathin NbN films, the main HEB-mixer parameters and their measurement techniques are discussed, and practical terahertz radioastronomy projects based on heterodyne receivers with HEB mixers are considered.     

THz radiation sensors

In the paper, issues associated with the development and exploitation of terahertz (THz) radiation detectors are discussed. The paper is written for those readers who desire an analysis of the latest developments in different type of THz radiation sensors (detectors), which play an increasing role in different areas of human activity (e.g., security, biological, drugs and explosions detection, imaging, astronomy applications, etc.). The basic physical phenomena and the recent progress in both direct and heterodyne detectors are discussed. More details concern Schottky barrier diodes, pair braking detectors, hot electron mixers, and field-effect transistor detectors. Also the operational conditions of THz detectors and their upper performance limits are discussed.     

Recent developments in millimeter and submillimeter waves

Millimeter and submillimeter-wave observations provide important information for the studies of atmospheric chemistry and astrochemistry (molecular clouds, stars formation, galactic study, comets and cosmology). But, these observations depend strongly on instrumentation techniques and on the site quality. New techniques or higher detector performances result in unprecedented observations and, sometimes, the observational needs drive developments of new detector technologies, for example, superconducting junctions (SIS mixers) because of their high sensitivity in heterodyne detection in the millimeter and submillimeter wave range (100–700 GHz), HEB (Hot Electron Bolometer) mixers which are being developed by several groups for application in THz observations. For the sub-millimetre wavelengths heterodyne receivers, the local oscillator (LO) is still a critical element. So far, solid state fundamental sources are often not powerful enough for most of the applications at millimetre or submillimetre wavelengths: large efforts using new planar components (HBV) and integrated circuits, or new technics (laser mixing) are now in progress, in a few groups.The new large projects as SOFIA, FIRST, ALMA, … for astronomy; SMILES, EOS-MLS, … for aeronomy and other projects for the planetary science (ROSETTA, Mars Explorer, …), will benefit of the new developments.     

Noise Behaviour of a THz Superconducting Hot-Electron Bolometer Mixer

A quasi-optical superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer （HEB） mixer is measured in the frequency range of 0.5-2.5 THz for understanding of the frequency dependence of noise temperature of THz coherent detectors. It has been found that noise temperature increasing with frequency is mainly due to the coupling loss between the quasioptical planar antenna and the superconducting HEB bridge when taking account of non-uniform distribution of high-frequency current. With the coupling loss corrected, the superconducting HEB mixer demonstrates a noise temperature nearly independent of frequency.     

高速太赫兹探测器

太赫兹(terahertz,THz)技术在高速空间通信、外差探测、生物医学、无损检测和国家安全等领域具有广阔的应用前景.能响应1 GHz调制速率以上THz光的高速THz探测器是快速成像、THz高速空间通信、超快光谱学应用技术和THz外差探测等领域的核心器件.传统的THz热探测器难以实现高速工作,而基于半导体的THz探测器在理论上可实现高速工作.光导天线具有超快的响应速度,可实现常温和宽谱探测;肖特基势垒二极管混频器、超导-绝缘体-超导混频器和超导热电子混频器具有转换效率高、噪声低等优点,可用于高速THz空间外差和直接探测;基于高迁移率二维电子气的天线耦合场效应晶体管灵敏度高、阻抗低,可实现常温高速THz探测;THz量子阱探测器是一种基于子带间跃迁原理的单极器件,非常适合高频和高速探测应用,亚波长金属微腔耦合机理可显著提高器件的工作温度及光子吸收效率.本文对上述几种高速THz探测器进行了综述并分析了各种探测器的优缺点.     

ALMA Band 10 tertiary optics

The ALMA Band 10 (787–950 GHz) receiver is a dual-polarization heterodyne system based on NbTiN superconducting technology. The coupling of energy from the secondary mirror of the ALMA Cassegrain antenna to the Superconductor–Insulator–Superconductor (SIS) mixers used for down-conversion is achieved by a frequency-independent optical system composed of two elliptical mirrors to focus and redirect the incoming radiation, a wire-grid to separate orthogonal linear polarizations and two corrugated horns, one for each polarization and SIS mixer. In this paper, we present the ALMA Band 10 tertiary optics design and evaluate its performance by quasi-optical techniques, Physical Optics simulations and measurements. Detailed results of secondary aperture efficiency and beam-squint are provided. The characterization procedure described in this paper can be used for any optical system at around 1 THz.