We have measured the noise temperature of a single, sensitive superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer in a frequency range from 1.6 to 5.3 THz, using a setup with all the key components in vacuum. By analyzing the measured receiver noise temperature using a quantum noise (QN) model for HEB mixers, we confirm the effect of QN. The QN is found to be responsible for about half of the receiver noise at the highest frequency in our measurements. The β-factor (the quantum efficiency of the HEB) obtained experimentally agrees reasonably well with the calculated value.

Topics
Electrical properties and parameters, Quantum efficiency, Electronic noise, Antennas, Optical communications, Signal processing method, Astrophysics, Space telescope, Electromagnetic radiation detectors, Quantum noise theory
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© 2010 American Institute of Physics.
2010
American Institute of Physics
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