Development of a 0.5-THz Waveguide NbN-Based SIS Mixer

Abstract

This paper mainly reports the development of a 0.5-THz waveguide SIS (superconductor - insulator - superconductor) mixer, which adopts twin NbN-based SIS junctions (NbN/AlN/NbN) connected in parallel. The 0.5-THz waveguide NbN SIS mixer is designed incorporating with a 51-mum thick MgO substrate and a waveguide mixer mount with no back-short cavity. Detailed simulation results, junction fabrication process and junction I-V characteristics are described. Preliminary FTS (Fourier transform spectrometer) measurement results will also be discussed.