Terahertz Direct Detection Characteristics of a Superconducting NbN Bolometer

Abstract

We report the terahertz direct detection characteristics of a spiral antenna coupled NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. Thermal conductance determined from resistance transition curves with different bias currents is found to be 3 × 10−7 W/K. The device shows a read-out circuit limited noise equivalent power (NEP) of 4.5 × 10−12 W/Hz1/2 at 4.2 K with a home-made transimpedance amplifier operating at room temperature.