Investigation of Superconductive Detectors and Materials for Astronomical Receivers

University Of Virginia Main Campus, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Abstract

Lichtenberger AST 9987330 Niobium based superconducting receivers offer the highest sensitivity for millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. The development of high quality, low noise mixer elements for these superconducting receivers is essential. The general radio astronomy community and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) directly benefit from this work. The work is divided into 2 parts: SIS mixers and HEB mixers. For the SIS mixers will be investigated in 4 stages: 1) a prototype 50ohm/square (4.2 degrees Kelvin) NbOx resister technology for image rejection mixers will be further developed using a new deposition system. 2) on-waver modules to control junction specific capacitance, dielectric constant and penetration depth 3) smaller junction areas for higher frequencies, 4) post wafer processing including whole wafer thinning (<2mil). HEB (super conducting hot electron bolometer) mixers research will be continued investigating: high bandwidth performance, applications of focussed ion beam to the fabrication of novel diffusion cooled hot electron bolometric mixers and other innovative Nb mixer fabrication processes.