Superconducting integrated on-board spectrometer of the submillimeter-wave range for atmospheric research

We present the latest results of developing and implementing a fully superconducting integrated receiver of the submillimeter-wave range on the basis of the superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction. Characteristics of a new-generation unique device operated in the frequency range 500–600 GHz and intended for atmospheric research onboard a high-altitude balloon within the framework of the international TELIS project are given. This frequency range comprises spectral lines of many chlorine-containing compounds, the registration of which is a major problem of the environmental monitoring of the atmosphere. In the process of creating the spectrometer, we developed the technology for manufacturing Nb/AlN/NbN junctions, which made it possible to reduce the emission linewidth of the superconducting local oscillator based on the long Josephson junction and decrease the noise temperature of the receiver. At the same time, the possibility to continuously tune the local-oscillator frequency in the entire operating range was realized.