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

Abstract

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-insulatorsuperconductor 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.

Modern millimeter and submillimeter receiver systems for radio astronomy

“…Further increase in the array dimensions is expected in the near future. 4) Spectral receivers of the short-wavelength part of the millimeter and submillimeter ranges of wavelengths are created mainly on the basis of SIS mixers [19]. At the same time, new receivers at frequencies of up to 100 GHz are designed on the basis of MMIC amplifiers.…”

Superconducting Receivers for Space, Balloon, and Ground-Based Sub-Terahertz Radio Telescopes

“…Figure 4 shows a photograph of the center of the receiver chip with a double-slot antenna designed to study the Earth's atmosphere from a high-altitude balloon (international project TELIS) [103][104][105][106][107]. Radia-Fig.…”