Low-noise slot antenna SIS mixers

Creators: Zmuidzinas, J.; Ugras, N. G.; Miller, D.; Gaidis, M.; LeDuc, H. G.; Stern, J. A.

Abstract

We describe quasi-optical SIS mixers operating in the submillimeter band (500-750 GHz) which have very low noise, around 5 h/spl nu//k/sub B/ for the double-sideband receiver noise temperature. The mixers use a twin-slot antenna, Nb/Al-Oxide/Nb tunnel junctions fabricated with optical lithography, a two-junction tuning circuit, and a silicon hyperhemispherical lens with a novel antireflection coating to optimize the optical efficiency. We have flown a submillimeter receiver using these mixers on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, and have detected a transition of H/sub 2//sup 18/O at 745 GHz. This directly confirms that SIS junctions are capable of low-noise mixing above the gap frequency.

Additional Information

© Copyright 1995 IEEE. Reprinted with permission. Manuscript received October 18, 1994. We thank J. Carlstrom, A. Clapp, J. Kooi, T.G. Phillips, R. Schoelkopf, and J. Ward for their contributions to the laboratory work and for helpful discussions. We are particularly grateful to D. Kaneshiro and all the employees of Janos Technology Inc. for their excellent work in the development of the diamond-machined coatings for the silicon lenses. This work was supported by NASA grants NAG2-744 and NAGW-107, the NASA/JPL Center for Space Microelectronics Technology, and a NSF Presidential Young Investigator grant to J. Zmuidzinas.

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