Submillimeter-wave detection with superconducting tunnel diodes

Abstract

The review presents a theoretical framework for understanding submillimeter detection using an optical photodiode theory. Both gain and noise in the superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer are described in terms of mixing on a photodiode. The role of impedance matching in the proper design of an SIS mixer is described. A variety of methods for achieving good impedance match at submillimeter frequencies are presented. The state of the submillimeter SIS mixer art as practiced in a variety of laboratories is described and summarized.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>