Superconducting quantum detectors

Abstract:

A procedure is described for calculating the power coupled between collimated, partially coherent vector fields that are in different states of coherence. This topic is of considerable importance in designing submillimeter-wave optical systems for astronomy. It is shown that if the incoming field S has coherence matrix A, and the outgoing field D has coherence matrix B, then the power coupled is simply Ps = Tr(ATBT), where the elements of T project the basis functions of B onto those of A. A similar technique can be used to calculate the power coupled from the background of S to D. The scheme is illustrated by calculating the power coupled between two scalar, Gaussian Schell-model beams. The procedure can be incorporated into optical design software.

Abstract:

It is well known that the boundary conditions of the electromagnetic fields on the surface of a superconductor are influenced by the field penetration into the material. In a series of recent publications, it has been suggested that this effect substantially influences the wave propagation in high-temperature superconducting waveguides, to the extent that the mode order becomes different than that predicted for perfect conductor waveguides. In this paper, we present experimental investigation of this effect. We show that the effect of superconductivity on the wave propagation in waveguides is very small for temperatures well below the transition temperature and away from cutoff. We also discuss the behavior of the waveguide near cutoff and very close to the transition temperature. © 2001 IEEE.

Abstract:

We describe a procedure for simulating the behavior of partially coherent submillimeter-wave antenna systems. The procedure is based on the principle that the second-order statistical properties of any partially coherent vector field can be decomposed into a sum of fully coherent, but completely uncorrelated, natural modes. Any of the standard electromagnetic analysis techniques-physical optics, geometrical theory of diffraction, etc.-can be used to propagate and scatter the modes individually, and the statistical properties of the total transformed field reconstructed at the output surface by means of superposition. In the case of modal optics-plane waves, Gaussian optics, waveguide mode matching, etc.-the properties of the field can be traced directly by means of scattering matrices. The overall procedure is of considerable value for calculating the behavior of astronomical instruments comprising planar and waveguide multimode bolometers, submillimeter-wave optical components, and large reflecting antennas.

Abstract:

We have developed a 330-370GHz SIS mixer for small-format, heterodyne, astronomical imaging arrays. Fixed-tuned broadband operation is achieved by means of a superconducting radial waveguide probe. A horn-reflector antenna provides high-efficiency optical coupling. Using a variable-temperature cryogenic noise source, we measured a DSB system noise temperature of 32±1K. The mixer contributes 3±3K, supporting the theoretically-predicted result that the noise temperature of a DSB mixer can be less than (Latin small letter hwith stroke)ω/2k (8.6K). © 2001 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Abstract:

Superconducting detectors are set to become the principal method by which wide-field mapping and deep point-source searches are carried out throughout the whole of the submillimetre-wave frequency range. In the paper, we outline the operation of the basic detector types, and assess the future of superconducting detector technology. We place particular emphasis on distinguishing between single-mode, few-mode, and multi-mode designs, and we explain how similar the superconducting bolometer and mixer technologies have become. We outline the considerable advances that are taking place in the area of superconducting detector technology.