title: Heterodyne detection at near-infrared wavelengths with a superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer.
abstract: We report on the development of a highly sensitive optical receiver for heterodyne IR spectroscopy at the communication wavelength of 1.5 μm (200 THz) by use of a superconducting hot-electron bolometer. The results are important for the resolution of narrow spectral molecular lines in the near-IR range for the study of astronomical objects, as well as for quantum optical tomography and fiber-optic sensing. Receiver configuration as well as fiber-to-detector light coupling designs are discussed. Light absorption of the superconducting detectors was enhanced by nano-optical antennas, which were coupled to optical fibers. An intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth of about 3 GHz was found in agreement with measurements at 300 GHz, and a noise figure of about 25 dB was obtained that was only 10 dB above the quantum limit.
authors.forename: Yury
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lobanov
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shcherbatenko
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shurakov
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rodin
authors.forename: Artem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klimchuk
authors.forename: Alexander I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Nadezhdinsky
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maslennikov
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larionov
authors.forename: Matvey
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finkel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semenov
authors.forename: Aleksandr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Verevkin
authors.forename: Boris M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Voronov
authors.forename: Yakov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ponurovsky
authors.forename: Teunis M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Klapwijk
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Gol'tsman